Well what a start to our Second team season. The Phoenix squad was buzzing to get out on to the field and beat our local rival team Slough after the successful victory that our first team had two weeks ago at their home ground.

The game started very even and saw both teams on an equal battle but our Phoenix side winning most of the scrums and line outs. Great performances by our forwards pack. The game kept battling on and saw ground being made by both sides back and forth but a gap was seen and an amazing quick ball out by Paul Byrne saw Charlie Russell drifting through the Slough teams defence and over the try line. (5-0)

The Slough side knew that they would have to turn up the heat and was not prepared to let our Phoenix side defeat them. The Slough team managed to use there forwards to make ground and a quick ball out to their back line managed to gain a try. A conversion by number 10 bought the score to (5-7).

Phoenix knew they would have to up the defence as well as attack; some great ball by our No 8 managed to make some amazing ground for the Phoenix side. A win on a line out though saw the Slough side push it on to their back line to score yet another try and conversion. (5-14).

Half time came around and the Phoenix Side really need to up the pressure if we were going to win the game. The team continued to press on and saw some great lines made by Lewis Toplass and some great ground made by our forwards through slow balls.

Unfortunately though the ball managed to turn over and possession was on Slough. The defensive line unfortunately was broken from the Phoenix side and the Slough side managed to break through the lines yet again scoring another try and conversion. (5-21)
A penalty soon followed for the slough side bringing the score to (5-22)

The Phoenix side up there game and using there forwards made ground and saw a great ball out on to our excellent back line and Edmund Doherty newcomer managed to speed through the lines to score a try. (10-22).

We were now back in the game and Phoenix Side pressure increased yet again. The game again levelled out and saw great play by both sides but yet again the Slough side managed to creep through the lines and conceded another try and conversion. (10-29)

The final part of the game saw the Phoenix side really give it their all and a miss tackle lead to them scoring yet another try & Conversion bringing the final score to (10-36).

Captain's Comments
"Great Effort from the 18-20 guys that turned out and never stopped working, very proud to Captain this squad"

Summary

All in all a good game we thought. I do believe we may have got slightly complacent when scoring our first try which could have been the reason for them breaking through our lines.

In parts we did over play the forward phases and sapped a lot of energy on a hot day including not using the back line enough. Lastly our defensive line in broken play saw gaps which Slough took advantage of on the counter attack.

The Slough pack were able to slow our ball whilst maintaining quick ball for themselves which at crucial times in the first and second half was the difference.

But it’s ok. It’s something we definitely need to work on going into next week in training. The lads as always worked 100% and it’s great to see. Some great lines by Lewis Toplass, try scoring by Edmund Doherty & Charlie Russell and the forwards pack great drives.

A Team that is coming on, we all keep working at it and our time will come.