Doncaster Rugby Club

Saturday saw return to league action with the visit of Leeds Corinthians who previously beat Phoenix on there early outing this season 20-14. However on the back of last weeks performance Phoenix picked up where they left off with an emphatic display avenging their earlier defeat.

The side saw the return of Morris and Germaine back from international duty; Atkinson kept his back row slot with Longworth reverting to lock. In the backs Elliot did enough to claim No.9 and Ellis returned at inside centre.

With the referee encouraging both sides to play a fast open game it was the home side who started with the ref’s intention to pursue fast flowing rugby and hit the visitors at pace which marked the game and would ultimately be the main contributing factor to their victory. To the visitors credit despite the pace they were hit at they held steadfast for the first ten minutes stopping any home foray.

However on the fourteen minute mark Doncaster opened the game with the forwards hitting deep left and tying in the home defence which when the resulting ball was spun quickly on the counter Conway received the ball to stumble over the exposed defence to mark his inaugural try for Phoenix.

The next try came only three minutes later when winger Meadows received the ball halfway and broke through Corinthian defence to charge down for thirty and then bring the ball in field to the vacant left flank committing the last tackler he offloaded to Germaine who strolled over under the post with Ellis adding the tricky conversion (for him!).

Corinthians responded with their only score of the game when the fly half Boyes opted to kick what seemed an ambitious penalty 45m out and to his credit hit sweetly so the ball sailed over for 3 points.

It was then normal service resumed with the visitors struggling to keep up with the home side pace (and the Ref’s) which resulted on the 30 minute mark Atkinson breaking through in the twenty two and unselfishly off loading to Oliver who cantered over for another converted try.

Final try of the half came courtesy of full back Gray again as a result of taking the ball at pace in the line and going over in the corner for a 24-3 midway scoreline.

On the turn round Phoenix dropped off the pace a little and whilst still applying the pressure the final pass would be dropped or slightly over run which prevented an increase in the scoreline.

It wasn’t until twenty minutes in that Phoenix got back into the scoring habit with