Phoenix 39 pts Alchester 36 pts

Dignitaries from the Buckinghamshire RFU Constituent Body attended including past President of the RFU Peter Trunkfield. Alchester, as league leaders with 6 wins from 7 matches were clear favourites for this encounter and were at full strength. Phoenix on the other hand had managed just 4 wins from 7 matches. So the advantage was very much with Alchester. But Phoenix were focussed for this one and started the match strongly. Any doubt about intent was swiftly erased when Phoenix Captain Edd Dibb stopped the Alchester attack dead with a crunching tackle on the Alchester hit man in midfield. In that moment, Phoenix had drawn the line and in just a few more minutes, the home side had crossed for their first try of the match when Jason Townsend finished off a three-quarter move with a try in the corner. A second try was not long in coming as the home side gathered momentum when Chris Laidler entered the line at pace and rounded the defence to take Phoenix to an improbable 10 point lead. The Phoenix three-quarters were playing with considerable fluidity, linking and creating space where there appeared to be none. Lal Turner’s long pass from the base of the scrum and his control of the Phoenix forward machine provided his partner at fly-half with space to attack the Alchester defence. In the early stages of this match, Phoenix were virtually unstoppable but they succumbed to a forward drive by Alchester that ended with a try beneath the posts to reduce the Alchester deficit to just 3 points. But the Phoenix pack was on song and anything Alchester had to throw at them was swiftly dealt with, primarily through the efforts of Harris and Wilkinson in the back row. In the event that Alchester managed to progress, McMillan was ready at centre to cut them down. The Phoenix score quickly became 15 when Layton Coomber (maiden try) crossed through the centre of a ruck on the Alchester line and then 20 when the confident Phoenix three-quarters took a quick penalty and Dave Harris was released to cross wide out on the right. Phoenix were having most of the play at up to this point they were completely successful but a deep kick into Phoenix territory was not well managed by the Phoenix defence and a loose clearance enabled Alchester to launch a counter-attack with the half time whistle just seconds away. Alchester took full advantage and crossed for a try beneath the posts to reduce the Phoenix lead to just 3 points at the break.

The game that had started so brightly for the swift Phoenix three-quarters had turned sour during the second quarter and it was imperative that Phoenix regain the upper hand early in the second half. Alas the home side supporters were to be disappointed when Alchester who had certainly upped their game took the lead after a short period of forward dominance inside the Phoenix 22 during which they bullied Phoenix into submission and were rewarded with a crunching forward try beneath the posts. Alchester had found their strengths and were putting them to great effect. Another Alchester try came soon afterwards in much the same way and third shortly after that to take Alchester into a 36 points to 20 lead mid way through the second half. Phoenix hooker James Dixon was replaced by Mark Jones as was No. 8 Billy Duncan by Neil Wyncombe and Matt Simpson came on for Danny Clancy on the wing who had had a very sharp game. In the normal course of things and with just 20 minutes of the match remaining, one would have expected Alchester to defend that lead.
Indeed Alchester were swarming all over the Phoenix defence. Alchester set up camp on the Phoenix line and were within inches of putting themselves out of reach but the intervention of Duncan Wardle and Matt Simpson drove them back, a penalty for not releasing enabled Phoenix to do one thought, the correct thing and clear their lines. But Lal Turner by now growing in confidence took a quick penalty 10 meters from his own line and weaved through the initial Alchester defence and after support from the whole Phoenix three-quarter line Townsend crossed for a try reducing the Phoenix deficit to 9 points as the game entered the final 10 minutes. In the instant that Turner had cut through the Alchester defence, Phoenix had regained their composure and were again in control swiftly moving the ball around. This time it was outside centre Chris Blake who finished things off on the right wing to put Phoenix within just 4 points of Alchester and things very much moving their way. With a few minutes to go Phoenix pressed down the left on the Alchester line and from an Alchester scrummage, Duncan Wardle turned the ball over and Turner swiftly set his three-quarters in motion. Again Blake finished a fine three-quarter move crossing in the right hand corner to take Phoenix into the lead with 2 minutes remaining. Coltman converted from the touchline to take a three-point lead. Alchester tried to regain the momentum but Phoenix refused to be bullied into submission and Alchester were forced to clear the ball to touch. The Phoenix lineout had been strong all afternoon and this final lineout was to be no exception. Coltman gathered and the pack surrounded the ball and drove Alchester back for a full 15 meters before taking the ball and in a controlled manner kicked it into touch to end the match and a superb victory for the home side. 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 Thatcham in the Bucks Berks and Oxon Premier League, kick-off 2.30 p.m. everyone is welcome.