Phoenix 34 pts Harwell 12 pts

Phoenix took to the field in new strip courtesy of sponsors Nick and Crane estate Agents and Lal Turner at scrum half for Phoenix wasted no time at all in putting Harwell to the sword. Phoenix were awarded a scrummage on the Harwell 10 meter line when Harwell knocked-on under pressure from the Phoenix pack. Turner broke through and cleverly chipped the Harwell defence, gathered the ball and crossed wide out on the right with barely 2 minutes of the match spent. Phoenix were rampant in these early minutes but the Harwell pack were keen to cancel out the early score and clearly had the upper hand as Phoenix were pressured on their own line for a full 20 minutes but there was no way through for Harwell. The Phoenix back row of Watkinson, Harris and Mitchell were breaking up any Harwell moves and Coltman at full-back brought off a couple of try saving tackles to keep a clean sheet for the home side. Phoenix made a rare venture into Harwell territory and forced Harwell into a hurried clearance. With vision, Dave Harris took a quick throw in and the result was a try in the opposite corner of the field for wing three-quarter Tom Jost. The Harwell pack certainly had the measure of Phoenix but they were unable to convert their possession into points. A few minutes later, Lal Turner broke clear again and the Phoenix three-quarters mover the ball wide with Dave McMillan who timed his pass to perfection, linking with flanker Ian Watkinson in support for a scissors with prop James Dixon to score under the posts. With the conversion, Phoenix were in a commanding 17 point lead with 15 minutes to go to the break. Turner again broke clear and this time raced through to the line for a third try in about 8 minutes. The conversion put Phoenix 24 points ahead at the break.
The match was clearly a contest between Phoenix three-quarters and Harwell’s pack and the outcome depended upon whether the Phoenix pack could hold their opponents in the tight.
Within five minutes of the restart, Phoenix were under the cosh from some strong Harwell forward play and their defence was breached with a driving try 15 meters out on the left. The Phoenix scrummage was retreating under some strong forward play by Harwell which reduced the opportunities for any Phoenix three-quarter play. 10 minutes into the half and Harwell struck again with a similar try this time under the posts as Phoenix were caught napping in defence. The Phoenix cause was further upset when hooker Rob Gill left the field with an injury, upsetting the Phoenix lineout where Matt Symmonds had been providing useful ball for his side. This third quarter was Harwell’s finest period of the match and to win it they just needed a third try to break the confidence of the Phoenix side. But it was Phoenix who struck next when their forwards began to respond to their supporters urging them on. A forward drive was swiftly spun right and centre Dave McMillan came on the diagonal run back to his pack and took the ball to within 2 meters of the Harwell line where he found Watkinson on his shoulder for the score that effectively closed Harwell out of the match and took Phoenix into a 17 point lead. As the match came to a close, it was Phoenix who had the upper hand and prop Edd Dibb was driven over by the Phoenix pack and Lal Turner to complete proceedings for the day. Phoenix train every Tuesday evening at 7.00 p.m. at their grounds in Institute road Taplow see www.phoenixrfc.com for further information. Next weekend Phoenix travel to Oxford in the Bucks Berks and Oxon Premier League, kick-off 3.00 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Other Results:
Phoenix 2nd XV 80 pts Abbingdon 2nd XV 8 pts