Doncaster Rugby Club

Pre- Season Friendly

Doncaster Phoenix 7 Wheatley Hills 14

This Saturday saw the new season start in earnest against local rivals Wheatley Hills now in Yorkshire 2. Whilst Phoenix got beat they can come away with many positives after a close fought encounter.

The match was played in four twenty minute quarters on an afternoon of high temperatures which saw Director Farley bring out the factor 30 much to amusement of his team mates in the changing room.

IT was the visitors who started the stronger and came close in the opening minutes where the forwards made territory to allow the ball to be spun wide to put the right winger away only to be hauled down from an impressive covering tackle from Brookfield when the line beckoned.

Having weathered the storm and Stuart’s boot gaining the ground it was then Phoenix’s turn to use the ‘mythical’ slope to advance into Wheatley territory. A line was conceded in the left and from the resulting move Millar received in the centre to dance through the defence to be hauled short where the supporting stalwart frame of Captain Longworth was on hand to pick and dive over from millimetres to open the Phoenix account with Stuart converting.

Wheatley pulled the score back in the second corner by spinning the ball left and advancing speedily to evade the wing defence and scamper over after some missed cover tackles.

In the third quarter Wheatley sealed the win again through errors in the back when Phoenix were in attack they spilled the ball to allow the full back to kick trough evade the last line of defence and collect to go over un-opposed. It was evident that one of today’s learning points – probably for both sides - were chances were missed and balls dropped in the centres when overlaps were there for the taking. Phoenix were also guilty of losing the shape that allowed the visitors to attack.

The forth corner was evenly matched and neither side was able to bring any more points to the table and the visitors ended winning 14-7.

Plus points for the day was that the Phoenix pack looked comfy with the likes of Fielding, Oakley and Morris giving good accounts, Stuart’s boot was a good way to advance and Millar and Jazz always looked lively.

All in all a creditable first game but still there is plenty more to work on to gain shape before the Yorkshire 3 campaign commences.