The first Saturday of the New Year saw Phoenix travel to bottom placed Halifax Vandals and consolidate second spot with a workman like win, and Otliensians going down at Hullensians a bonus.

The side remained much the same that played Hessle before the Xmas recess with Sanderson back in tight head and Conway stepping in at full back for the injured Gray the only changes.

In tricky handling conditions Phoenix started off strongly and two minutes in Conway received the ball wide out right and like days off old steamed over in the corner only to be adjudged to have been held up by the home defence.

However from the ensuing scrum Greenslade took a quick ball and deft of foot danced over to go under the posts with Ellis knocking over the conversion. Three minutes later Ellis increased the advantage after the home side were guilty of infringing in front of the posts for the simplest of penalties.

Ten minutes in the home side hooker went down and was attended to for a lengthy time that seem to affect the momentum on such a cold day. Saying that Phoenix were rarely troubled in a half they dominated with resilient home defence keeping the score line at 10 –0. Highlight of the half was Burton put through after a deft backs move only to bundled down when glory beckoned!

On the turn round it was Vandals that started with some intention sensing ten points was assailable and pressured the bottom left corner using the slope and their pack providing a stern test for Phoenix.

Ten minutes in Coach Senior opted to bring on Dave Magurie and Coach Farley and they were re-joined shortly after by Meadows when Elliot decided to maim teammate Greenslade for a go at scrum half on such a cold day.

With the Phoenix defence up to the task they weathered the storm and then took the game back to Vandals territory where they attacked the bottom right corner as the curvature of the pitch dictated. From a line out five out Phoenix opted for the catch and drive to be held up short, Farley was on hand though to break blind and dive over in the corner for the 15-0 score line.

Barring one interception that saw the Vandals centre almost score after a 90-yard dash Phoenix were now in control and were never going to lose the game and so the final score finished at 15-0.

On a bleak day this was a solid return to league action and Phoenix now have a 3 point cushion in the leaguer standings between themselves and Otliensians.

Phoenix seconds also recorded a 53-10 victory over Vandals and with players a plenty competition for places is getting interesting which is a healthy state of play with the push for promotion now the main priority!

2005/6 Playing Record: