Doncaster Rugby Club

Yorkshire 3

Skipton 17 Doncaster Phoenix 3

Phoenix made another long journey to far flung Skipton and unfortunately could not repeat the win from their previous travels to Lancashire last week in the EDF.

Again there changes due to injury and unavailability which saw Tim Elliot return at fly half, Adam Burton move to centre, Tom Elliot to wing and Mark Jasanowski return to full back.

On a heavy pitch and with prop Al Kaihau running late Phoenix opted to start with 14 men and wait for their wayward forward to arrive. It was the home side who started strongly and hit Phoenix with their pack battering the home gain line. From an ensuing ruck the ball was spun to inside centre Burke who breached the defence and went over for a converted try.

Skipton then enhance the lead with a penalty and then a try from outside centre again courtesy of poor tackling when he received on the left broke the initial tackle and sprinted twenty yard to take a 17-0 advantage.

It wasn’t until Phoenix were up to full complement that they started to make some ground with some good interplays in the pack but the home defence held strong and the score remained 17-0 on the turn.

With Morris going off injured it meant the introduction of Farley who in the first five opted to take a quick tap on the half way advancing ten to allow the impetus to pressure from twenty for the home side to infringe allowing Jazanowski to slot over three points.

The next ten saw some resolute defence from the visitors who held the home pack at bay despite three penalty attempts they failed to score.

Phoenix did then have a period of pressure with ten remaining but as they advanced they were adjudged to have held on.

Thus the score remained 17-3 with Skipton taking the points to go top as Thorne drew with Aireborourgh. Phoenix must look to the two early missed tackles and not being able to start with 15 men that cost them any chance of a win.