Phoenix 25 Pts v Bicester 19 Pts

Phoenix kicked off and soon slotted a penalty goal to take the lead. When Chris Harrison was set free after some good Phoenix forward driving and crossed wide out on the left, Phoenix looked to have the mastery of Biceter. Bicester recovered but soon found themselves back under pressure in their own 22 where Tony Porter made a searing run to score beneath the posts. Jason Townsend was on target with the conversion and Phoenix had a 15 point lead on the half hour. The Phoenix pack was going reasonably well in the tight and loose as Bicester struggled. A lapse of concentration cost Phoenix 7 points before the break as Bicester broke through in mid-field.

Bicester were first to score in the second half when they stole Phoenix lineout ball and a weaving individual run from their young fly-half brought Bicester to within 3 points of the Phoenix total. But Phoenix recovered a more comfortable 10 point lead when James Taylor ran in under the Bicester posts. Townsend added the extras. Bicester were far from out of it however and their third try came from a forward drive over the Phoenix line and reduced the deficit to just three points as the match entered its closing stages. Townsend slotted another penalty for Phoenix to force Bicester into needing a converted try for victory and as the clock ticked down Bicester took two short penalties inside the Phoenix 22 driving strongly for the Phoenix line but the Phoenix defence was good enough to resist them and when the whistle blew a few seconds later, Phoenix had registered their second victory of 2013 in this the Club’s 50th season.

Next week Phoenix travel to Reading Abbey for a non-league fixture.

Phoenix: J Dixon, E Dibb, J Willis, N Wincomb, L Maundrill, A Brench, T Morgan, A Porter; D Harris (Capt), K Roche, C Harrison, J Taylor, I Watkinson, M Lloyd, J Townsend

Subs: J Dainty