Thatcham 25 pts Phoenix 13 pts

Standing water on the pitch was overcome with some sand under the instructions of the referee before things could get underway. Phoenix started brightly enough and moved the ball swiftly through their hands. Dibb was held up inches short of the line for what would have been the opening score but Phoenix continued to drive at the Thatcham line and fly-half Dan Simmonds crossed on the blind side to take the lead. But Phoenix looked less than settled and failed to control the ball from the restart which resulted in a penalty goal attempt by Thatcham which reduced their deficit to just 2 points. Phoenix failed to get the ball down their three-quarter line on several occasions as the Thatcham defence were on them in an instant, too quickly some might say. In the conditions, Thatcham kicked Phoenix back at every opportunity and capitalised on some poor Phoenix defence on too many occasions that put Phoenix under pressure that should have been cleared. But Phoenix were taking the play to Thatcham and the home side needed to up their game and did so during the second quarter. The Thatcham fullback came into the line and just made the line under the shadow of Phoenix man of the match Duncan Wardle. A penalty goal for Coltman finished the scoring in the first half.

With just two points between the sides at the break this match could have gone either way. Indeed Phoenix were first to threaten the Thatcham line in the second half but as they did so, a wayward pass fell into Thatcham hands and the result was a try for Thatcham beneath the posts at the other end of the field. The Phoenix defence was struggling to cope with some penetrative kicking from the Thatcham fly-half as he pushed the visitors back at every opportunity using the conditions to full advantage. Phoenix ran well in attack but the fluidity and smoothness with which they had disposed of Alchester just was not there and play broke down. The Thatcham scrummage took Phoenix apart which did not help the visitors when play broke down although Coltman and Wardle were strong in the lineout. As the match entered the final quarter the 9 point Thatcham lead became 12 with a penalty goal. Phoenix ran at the Thatcham defence strongly but mistakes let them down and when a dropped pass was hacked on by Thatcham who found nobody at home in the phoenix defence, the game was up for Phoenix. Final honours did however go to Phoenix with a try by Adam McMillan just before the whistle, driving through the midfield from a superbly timed pass by Dan Simmonds.

Phoenix 2nd XV 12 pts Thatcham 2nd XV 18 pts
Phoenix 3rd XV 10 pts Farnham Royal 2nd XV 17 pts