Doncaster Rugby Club

Doncaster Phoenix 22 Barnsley 2^nd’s 3

The inaugural game of the 2006/7 season saw Doncaster Phoenix put in a workman like display to record a competent victory courtesy of 4 tries to none.

Notable inclusions saw veteran Atkinson revert to prop, veterans Skidmore and Douglas maintain their second row partnership with the ‘horse’ switching to No 8. In the backs saw the introduction of Ben Millar and Ryan Roodt in the centres.

It was the visitors who elected to kick with the slope and started the stronger applying pressure in Phoenix territory in the opening exchanges.

Phoenix rode the storm and regrouped to maintain field position. Therefore it was after 15 minutes that Phoenix recorded their first score of the day when they broke left and were awarded a penalty thirty yards out. Millar was quick on the uptake and opted for the quick tap and broke left with support form Roodt saw the opening who offloaded to vice captain Burton to pop over in the left hand corner for the first score of the season, the touch down going unconverted.

With Phoenix now gaining the upper hand they were unlucky not to increase the advantage when Roodt latched on to a spilled mid-field kick and with the line beckoning failed to gather when glory beckoned.

It was Barnsley who finished the half two points behind when they knocked over a penalty twenty-five yards out with all to play for in the second half.

With the elements now in their favour Phoenix opted to make changes introducing Morris at lock, Malton on the flank with Harrison coming in at centre and Elliot in at fly half.

With the Captain Longworth now in his customary position Phoenix increased their advantage courtesy of two catch and drive’s five yards out with Morris and Kaihau latching on the drive after gaining optimum field position, with Millar adding one conversion.

With a competent performance without the edge of last season displayed it wasn’t until the last five minutes of the bout that Phoenix showed the flair needed to compete in Yorkshire 3. This was when the ball was spun left to Harrison who put in a deft switch allowing Burton to collect the reverse ball to advance down the right flank and outpace the opposing winger to go over for the score of the day and seal a 22-3 win.

As previously stated this was a workman like performance to kick off the season but I believe all the team knows to be contenders that the pace needs to be increased to push promotion. Saying that Millar looked a handful, Morris was prolific at open side and Roodt put in a good account at centre.