Phoenix 13 Pts - Chipping Norton 44 Pts

Phoenix have had an excellent start to the season and were victorious in the Bucks Bowl competition in recent weeks. So they were eager to get to grips with promotion contenders Chipping Norton.

Things started very well for Phoenix. Chipping Norton kicked off into the low sun and were quickly on the back foot when Matt Symonds broke through on 2 minutes and ran the first try of the match in from halfway after gathering a loose ball. Phoenix failed to add the extras but were nevertheless buoyed by the event. It took Chipping Norton some time to recover but their intent was clear. The Chipping Norton driving play and ball retention tested the Phoenix defence to the full but there was no doubt that they would not have made so much ground had the Phoenix tackling been more destructive. Nevertheless it took Chipping Norton 20 minutes to find the Phoenix line just to the right of the posts after some excellent driving and recycling. The conversion was good and took them into a 2 point lead which they were not to relinquish. They extended their lead with a penalty goal a couple of minutes later and when they scored their second try, similar in style to their first, the afternoon began to look ugly for the home side. Chipping Norton were by now retaining possession for minutes at a time and when play broke down Chipping Norton invariably came away with a penalty or a scrummage. The Phoenix scrummage was also struggling to hold a stronger Chipping Norton pack and consequently Phoenix had little ball with which to test the Chipping Norton defence. But in spite of their difficulties in the scrummage, Phoenix were still in contention on the half hour when Townsend slotted a penalty goal to reduce the deficit to just 9 points, 17-8, but control of the match was in Chipping Norton’s hands. The final 10 minutes of the half were crucial however to the outcome of the match. Two more Chipping Norton tries and a penalty kick in quick succession just before the break took them almost out of sight with a lead of 26 points.

Phoenix clearly regrouped during the break. Edd Dibb and Luke Maundrill joined in festivities in the Phoenix pack but injuries to them both just as Phoenix were putting on considerable pressure a couple of meters out from the Chipping Norton saw them return to the sidelines. Continuous effort from Phoenix was justifiably rewarded halfway through the second half when James Dixon drove over wide out on the right. Phoenix upped their game during the second half, restricting Chipping Norton to just two tries in the half but they were unable to create enough continuity to threaten the opposition. Phoenix retained their third place in the league but Chipping Norton strengthened their promotion challenge. Next week Phoenix travel to Gosford All Blacks in the Berks/Bucks and Oxon Premier League.

Phoenix: J Willis, J Richardson, J Dixon, N Wincomb, A Jones, R Gill, D Harris (Captain), M Symonds; L Turner, K Roach, D P'Boyle, D McMillan, B Coomber, J Dainty, J Townsend.

Subs: E Dibb, L Maundrill