Farnham Royal 19 Pts v Phoenix 15 Pts

We went to Farnham Royal on a dry but windy day. The talk and warm up before the game was lacking the usual intensity. Tom Porter(Cap) was doing his best to get the boys going but we were flat. We took the wind (and the slope) in the first half but did not take the advantage it should have offered. I think we do this quite often and try to plan what the opposition is going to offer rather than play the game on our terms right from the start.

We went up 3-0 with a penalty from Nigel Coltman. We did attack quite well and used the wind to some degree, but the first up tackling was not quite as aggressive as it should have been. Farnham Royal are an old boys team and forward play suited them. We kind of let them for the 1st 40 minutes control this area and the half time score was 5-3 to Farnham Royal.

A short but harsh exchange of words at half time got Phoenix in the mood to play a game that suited us. Farnham Royal scored early in the 2nd half making the score 12-3, then Simon K scored a try after great pressure by the forwards and backs bringing it back to 10-12. A few mystery calls saw a huge penalty count against us and eventually Farnham Royal scored another try making it 19-10.

With 10 minutes left on the clock Phoenix dug in and scored our 2nd try with 2 minutes left - 19-15 to Farnham Royal.

Farnham Royal kicked off deep, somehow we landed up with a last play in our 22. Phoenix won the ball, and Matt Landers kicked (idiot) but it landed in our hands - if the pass had stuck between Simon K and (not commonly known as) Tim Schofield, we were through for a try... Alas it did not happen making the final score 19-15 to Farnham Royal.

With all the elements against us Phoenix played the 2nd half the way we should have played the full game. If that was the case we would have cruised to a win.

Phoenix: Tom Porter, C Harrison, E Dibb, N Coltman, N Wincomb, J Willis, I Watkinson, L Maundrill; M Landers, K Roche, J Kilby, Simon K, C Varey, T Pell, B Coomber

Subs: M Lloyd, A Prentice, T Schofield