Doncaster Rugby Club

Doncaster Phoenix 37 West Leeds 3

Phoenix continued their fine start to the season with a comprehensive victory over a West Leeds side that the week previous put 41 points on Baildon.

Not knowing what to expect Phoenix went into the game with the side unchanged from the week previous with the exception of No. 8 with Germaine unavailable he was replaced by fellow countryman Roger Morris for his first league outing in a couple of seasons and Tim Elliot stepping into the fly-half spot.

As with week previous Phoenix with the advantage of the slope took the game to the visitors and were 14 points to the good after seven minutes.

The first score came courtesy of the pack rampaging their opposite numbers looking strong in the scrum and making yards with some strong trundling mauls. Having gained the upper hand the ball was recycled to Elliot who made the half break with Roodt in support to barge over and claim his second score in two weeks, with Millar’s boot also hitting the mark.

Phoenix doubled the tally again courtesy of the pack gaining field position with the ball spun left, and held in defence the forwards regained and Elliot broke blind to score on the right, with Millar adding another two points.

Not to be outdone West Leeds then entered into a strong phase of pressure and battered the Phoenix line and a couple chances were missed with a knock on when the line beckoned. Maintaining pressure Phoenix infringed and full back Cobley kept the Leeds side in touch with a penalty on the 15-minute mark.

Having gained the slight ascendancy the game went a bit stale for the remainder of the half and the it wasn’t until the home side weathered the storm to make yardage and increase their tally by 3 with Ben Millar knocking a penalty over for 17-3 half way score.

Phoenix turned round and added another 3 points courtesy of Millar on 50 minutes.

After the spot kick Farley and Harrison entered the field of play replacing Roodt and Morris. On the hour Phoenix made ground and won a line out five out. From the ensuing catch and drive Phoenix drove on with Farley breaking open to impact on the score line and the reliable boot of Millar increasing the score by another 7 points.

A quarter of an hour later Farley impacted his brace when from a scrum ten out he picked up from the scrum went open and barged through the fly half route 1 to crash over again the Millar 100% conversion rate making the score 34-3.

It was on the death Millar banged over another penalty to make the final score 37-3 and another two Yorkshire Three points for the league newcomers.

This was another encouraging win and provided a useful gauge for the Yorkshire 2 sides who came down. On the day Millar looking useful with pack providing a strong platform and unusually strong in the maul, to allow Elliot to marshal his backs for another successful day out.