Doncaster Rugby Club

Yorkshire 3

Doncaster Phoenix 11 Wath 15

Doncaster Phoenix continued their erratic home form with a defeat to neighbours Wath in a game they fundamentally lost in the first 10 minutes when the damage was done.

The team remained much the same as the week previous with the only exception being the return of Taylor on the flank in place of Mick Roodt who was away at a wedding.

With the advantage of the wind and the slope it was the visitors that inflicted the damage early doors with their fly half marshalling proceedings he took advantage of early field position with a drop goal in front of the sticks.

He then controlled the backs to inflict two tries on the home side with some deft cross field kicks combined with strong running finding the gaps around the flanks to allow the wingers to touch down twice and adding one conversion for the 15 point advantage after ten minutes.

This seemed to spur the home side into a response and they then had a series of sustained possession and attacked the Wath try line but met resolute defence or were guilty of an unforced error that meant the scoreline remained consistent.

However just before half time the possession did pay off with a Jazanowski penalty and with the elements and ‘mythical’ slope to come this should have boded well for Phoenix.

Ten minutes into the second half Jazz slotted penalty over and the a couple of further opportunities to add another six points with the possession the home side were afforded.

It wasn’t until 2 minutes remaining that the Bessacarr express in the shape of Burton received the ball from close range to steam over to reduce the deficit to four with Jazz hitting the upright.

However the clock had beaten the home side and the early Wath advantage was enough to secure the points on the day.