Phoenix 36 Pts v Chipping Norton 0 Pts

Phoenix played the match with a high tempo from the start, and Chipping Norton was unable to stay the pace. Phoenix scored its first try in the first 10 minutes when Luke Maundrill forced himself over the line. The try was converted by Nigel Coltman. With Chipping Norton being put under further pressure, Jamie Willis scored his first try of the season. With Luke Maundrill following with another unconverted try (a club-leading 11th of the season), the score was 17-0 to Phoenix after about a quarter of the match gone.

At this stage Chipping Norton had its best spell of the game, with Phoenix looking to play “Champagne Rugby”, leading to a lot of dropped balls and lack of continuity.

After a stern talk at halftime from captain Tom Porter, Phoenix returned to its game plan of fast, but percentage rugby, using numerous plays in tight, before releasing players wider out to attack Chipping Norton’s weakened defences. Chris Varey scored his 4th try of the season 10 minutes into the second half after some slick handling near the Chipping Norton line. With Phoenix now 22-0 up, the team looked to put some gloss on its final game of the season with well-worked converted tries by James Flynn (his first for the club) and Jamie Willis making the score 36-0 with 5 minutes to score.

The final score, in all honesty, should have passed the 40 point mark, but centres Chris Varey and Simon Kalafusz, ably assisted by full back Bradley Coomber, contrived to put down a three on nothing opportunity with the try line beckoning…

All in all, probably the best team performance of the season, with the scrum winning numerous balls against the head (leading the opposition to accuse the Phoenix pack of “cheating”) and stealing balls in the lineout. With the team winning 3 out of the last 4 (and only losing to Chesham by 1 point), there are good signs leading up to next season for Phoenix.

Phoenix: Tom Porter, Richardson, Dibb, Maundrill, Coltman, Willis, Tony Porter, Watkinson; Harris, Roche, Kilby, Kalafusz, Varey, Flynn, Coomber

Subs: Bird, Reid