Aylesbury Athletic 46 Pts v Phoenix 32 Pts

Phoenix have struggled of late with a mounting number of injuries within the Club affecting their second fifteen as well. Aylesbury Athletic on the other hand have strung together some significant victories of late by substantial margins and being just one place behind Phoenix in the league were keen to make it three wins in a row and swap places with them. Ultimately Aylesbury succeeded and the game itself became something of a spectacle with 11 tries being scored.

Phoenix got off to a good start driving Aylesbury back into their own 22 and forcing a 5 meter scrummage where Aylesbury managed to hack the ball away and broke down the wing to score their first try. A second try was not long is coming for the home side when they broke clean through to score beneath the posts. A further two tries for the home side saw Phoenix facing a 24 point deficit at the break. Although it was clear that Aylesbury had the pace to out-flank Phoenix if they could get away, they were less able to control things up front. On the other hand, the Phoenix pack tried to keep the ball tight and controlled significant periods of the game in this way. Apart from the Aylesbury breakouts, Phoenix had much of the game and their pack excelled, causing Aylesbury many problems in the tight where they were awarded a penalty try mid way through the first half. A Nigel Coltman penalty reduced the deficit to 24 points as the sides turned round with Aylesbury in the lead by 34 points to 10. Lineout and crummages went well for Phoenix. Luke Maundrill drove strongly in the pack for Phoenix as did Andrew Brench from the back row. Paul Byrne kicked well from fly-half and gained some good field position but the ability to turn possession and field position into points was a problem.

Phoenix regrouped during the second half and took the game to Aylesbury, staging something of a fight-back. Scrum-half Monkey Harris kept his forwards going and they forced Aylesbury onto the back foot on several occasions and came close to scoring from several rucks on the Aylesbury line. When Tim Schofield came on for the injured Maundrill, Phoenix gained the upper hand and Aylesbury received two yellow cards for infringements. Robin Gill and Coltman both crossed for tries for Phoenix as did Jason Townsend and Andrew Brench. Jamie Willis's overall contribution around the field was awesome and resulted in him being named Man of the Match. Phoenix ended the game in the ascendancy and the deficit was just 14 points at the close - leaving the team ruing a couple of early breakaway tries that ultimately cost them the game. Coach, Tim Schofield was pleased with the way the team tuck to their task and with a little more application could have taken the match.

Next weekend as part of the Phoenix 50th Anniversary Celebrations, the club are entertaining their sponsors before the match against Bicester at Institute Road, kick-off 2.30 p.m.

Phoenix: E Dibb, R Gill, J Willis, A Bird, L Maundrill, A Brench, T Morgan, J Dixon; D Harris (Capt), P Byrne, M Lloyd, A Porter, J Taylor, J Townsend, N Coltman

Subs: T Schofield