Doncaster Rugby Club

Yorkshire 3

Doncaster Phoenix 45  Roundhegians 5

The inaugural league game of 2007 saw Phoenix produce a fine home display to record a 45-5 victory over Leeds side Roundhegians.

The make of the side was similar to the side that recorded the Silver Trophy win with the back row a bit less mobile but more bulky in the form of Roger Morris and Coach Farley, the backs saw Jazanowski return to full back and Tom Elliot on to the wing for the injured Foster.

Phoenix started like a train and I think it would be fair to say that the start they had contributed to the win with the home side 21 points to the good in the first fifteen minutes.

The first score came after two minutes with interplay between backs and forwards that saw the ball pop up to Burton on the left to jink over for an early try, unconverted by Millar.

The next came courtesy of veteran Atkinson after the pack secured field position with a line out five metres out from the ensuing catch and drive the cheeky Atkinson grin was emergent from the melee with Millar adding the conversion.

The next five minutes saw the visitors apply some pressure themselves to impact in the Phoenix 22onyl for Hegians hearts to be broken when from a turnover just in front of the posts Farley broke blind with a two on one off loaded to Tim Elliot who punted up the field for his brother to pounce on the ball in goal with Millar knocking over the points for 21 point advantage after 15 minutes and in essence the game won.

For the next ten minutes and the advantage of the slope Hegians did again pressure and proved a tricky side where solid defence was called for. However the half was rounded off with another Phoenix seven points with Jazanowski bobbing over again after the forwards produced strong play to gain the territory.

The second half didn’t see any let up in the flow and the first score came from Number 8 Germaine who collected after another forward-back combination in the left and barge over for the converted try.

Tim Elliot then added another score when Phoenix were awarded a penalty thirty out and whilst Hegians backs were turn he took a quick tap and sprinted past the defence to go over in the corner.

With Phoenix continuing  the pressure with the advantage of the slope and with Big ‘Al’ on at half time he collected the ball from a ruck at close range to bundle himself over under the posts with Millar making the Phoenix tally 45 for the day.

To Hegians credit they didn’t give up and gained the consolation after some sustained pressure from one side of the pitch to the other seeing their winger go over two minutes from time.

This was encouraging start to 2007 and if Phoenix can maintain this form and with Skipton going down at Baildon then promotion is still a viable target in a highly competitive league.