The visitors started brightly, making all the running and forced a penalty in front of the Oxford posts within the first five minutes which Nigel Coltman duly kicked for the first points of the game. From the restart Phoenix continued to apply to pressure on the home side, playing the game predominantly in the Oxford half. Oxford gave due warning of their abilities when their inside centre ably lost his marker and made 50 metres before being brought down ten metres from the Phoenix line. Oxford opted to take a scrum when a penalty was awarded against Phoenix in the resulting ruck but the Phoenix forwards showed their mettle pushing the scrum backwards and stopping the Oxford attack in its tracks. The strong cross wind that blew throughout the match gave some marginal advantage to Phoenix and after this foray into their half the game now switched back into the Oxford half. La Turner at scrum half was causing the Oxford back row all sorts of problems and a smart break by Turner from a scrum on the Oxford ten metre line gained his side a further 30 metres before passing the ball to flanker James Richardson who took the ball over the Oxford line but the ball was adjudged by the referee to be held up. From the scrum Oxford were only able to clear the ball 10 metres for a line out. Phoenix set up a driving maul to the Oxford line and a just reward for the Phoenix pressure was a touchdown by lock Neil Wincombe. The high wind blew Coltmanâ€™s conversion attempt off course. Phoenix clearly dropped their concentration for from the kick off Oxford won the ball and an uncontested run from their prop saw Oxford score a converted try under the posts to reduce the Phoenix lead to a vulnerable one point. This inspired Oxford to maintain their pressure with half time approaching and they were rewarded with a penalty in front of the Phoenix posts enabling them to take a half time lead of two points.

The half time break served to remind Phoenix what they had travelled to Oxford for and as in the first half they started brightly with scrum half Turner leading most of the Phoenix attacks. The game was marred by a continuous series of penalties incurred by both sides which disrupted its flow. From one such penalty Oxford missed another kick at the Phoenix posts. It was clear both sides were evenly matched and the game switched ends regularly. Winger Gor Turner came close after fly hacking on a wayward Oxford pass and sprinting for the Oxford line but was brought down just short with the move breaking down after a Phoenix knock on. Phoenix remained camped inside the Oxford half during this period of play and at another scrum after 55 minutes the referee awarded a penalty against Oxford which Coltman was able to convert to give the lead back to Phoenix albeit by only one point. A few minutes later both sides exchanged penalties, Oxford first snatching the lead back and Phoenix taking it back again. In the final quarter of the game Oxford ratcheted up the pressure and fatigue began to force Phoenix into mistakes. Wincombe gave way to Paul Devlin following an injury but despite the Oxford pressure it still seemed possible for Phoenix to win the game and some smart work by the Turner brothers took the game a few metres from the Oxford line. A penalty was awarded to Phoenix after an Oxford player deliberately threw the ball into touch. Phoenix elected to take the scrum but an infringement gave the ball back to Oxford. Smart thinking from the home team and a wind assisted kick took the ball up the other end of the pitch and after a desperate chase by Jason Townsend and the Oxford wing they reached the Phoenix line neck and neck. The ball bounced awkwardly for Phoenix enabling the Oxford winger to catch the ball and touchdown giving them the game 18-14.

Phoenix 2nd XV played Harwell 2nds at Institute Road and ran out worthy winners 80-5.