Abingdon 15 pts Phoenix 29 pts

Phoenix’ victory over Abingdon last Saturday was just rewards for some very solid defensive work. Abingdon elected to take the advantage of the very strong wind in the first half thus relying on establishing a substantial lead before the break. As things turned out however, it was Phoenix who took the early lead when wing three-quarter Adam McMillan raced through from the half way line avoiding the Abingdon defensive cover to score beneath the posts. So strong was the wind that the conversion was driven back, failing to make the posts but Phoenix had a crucial 5 point lead with the game only 10 minutes old. Abingdon used the wind intelligently to keep Phoenix pinned inside their own 22 for much of the half. The Abingdon pack comfortably outweighed Phoenix and drove incessantly at the Phoenix line after they had set play up insight of the Phoenix line. It was a credit to the defence and particularly the tackling of the Phoenix back row that Abingdon were restricted. But inevitable a juggernaut try came from an Abingdon drive to level the scores. In spite of the wind, Phoenix were keen to exercise the heavier Abingdon pack and move the ball around but Abingdon capitalised with an interception try beneath the posts to take a 10 points to 5 lead as the game entered its second quarter. The more mobile Phoenix pack held their heavier opponents well in defence and Jason Townsend raced through to score beneath the posts and with a Coltman conversion gave Phoenix the lead just before the break.
Clearly Phoenix had had the better of the match and would enjoy the benfit of the strong wind for the remainder of the match. However the visitors failed to make much use of the elements for almost the whole of the third quarter of the match, allowing Abingdon to pin them back on their own line for long periods. Another juggernaught try from the Abingdon pack wrested the lead from Phoenix and served, together with Billy Duncan coming on for the injured Leighton Coomber, to liven up the Phoenix performance during the final quarter of the match. Watkinson who had terrorised the opposition for much of the match crashed over in the corner for Phoenix to retake the lead. Phoenix began to use the wind more as the game progressed and Watkinson went over again, this time in more delicate style in support of a Duncan Wardle break. One dummy and Watkinson was under the posts to provide Phoenix with a buffer of 9 points as the match entered its final throes. Phoenix began to pressurise Abingdon on their own line and Billy Duncan took a quick penalty to score the final try for Phoenix.