Phoenix turned in their best performance of 2006 with a credible win against strong opposition from Sheffield Tigers 2nds with their first team currently looking strong favourites for promotion.
The side included many changes with Germaine and Morris off to Twickers (apparently Germaine didn’t speak to any one until they got back into Yorkshire on the journey back!) it meant Phoenix could try Timms at Hooker introduce Lane at lock and the resulting back row being the oldest for a long time with Atkinson, Longworth and Farley.
The game started off with the visitors applying initial early pressure in the Phoenix twenty-two for the first ten minutes and Phoenix through solid defence and Tigers failing to execute the last move saw Phoenix weather the storm.
Having cleared the decks Phoenix used the slope to gain field position and put pressure in scrum by using veteran Atkinson’s guile to apply pressure which resulted in two penalties which the impressive Stewart banged over for a six point advantage.
Phoenix maintained the ascendancy and looked good in their interplay between forwards and backs and were unlucky to be held short on a couple of occasions when the line beckoned.
On the turn round Phoenix sustained their dominance which resulted in their touchdown in the right after good forward momentum in the pack the ball was spun through the back giving Gray the opportunity to touch down after evading two tackles.
With 10 minutes to go and a 11 point advantage Phoenix opted to take their foot off the gas which gave Tigers a glimmer of hope especially when they reduced the deficit to 4 points after touching down with seven minutes remaining. However Phoenix held out and came off the pitch with a worthy victory and a morale booster after the disappointment of the previous week. |
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