Doncaster Rugby Club

Doncaster Phoenix V York R.I.

This weekend Doncaster Phoenix entertained York Railway Institute, who currently sit 2^nd from bottom in Yorkshire 3, looking for our first back to back league victories of the season. Changes from the side that beat Rotherham Phoenix last week included Roodt in for Liddle and Ceri Thomas coming back to the centres.

Now before I start the match report I would like to point out that I do know more conjunctives than ‘which’ and ‘that’ but I just like using them! So bog off HT! Learn to spell.

The game started very poorly for Phoenix, with Captain Longworth setting an early example by missing the ball from the kick off. The ball simply went through his hooves, sorry hands, but he was leaning back as he quickly pointed out. From the next ruck an accidental offside gave the opposition a scrum just outside the twenty two it gave York chance to slice open the Phoenix back line and get the first score of the game, poor tackling all around. Phoenix again found themselves a try down after five minutes of a game and needed to step it up if they were going to beat a determined York side.

From the restart Phoenix started to dominate, Atkinson took a couple of York scrums, Smith started to steal in the lineout and some good yards were being made by the hard running forwards. Phoenix found themselves camped in the York twenty two and it seemed a score was inevitable, but York defended very well. In the end it took a simple but effective move off Miller at scrum half which gave Morris enough space to crash over from a yard. Miller converted.

After conceding, York came straight back at Phoenix with their inside centre making a good impression both in attack and defence. Ceri Thomas will definitely vouch for this as he got smashed by the hard hitting twelve and put on his rear end. Carpets were flying everywhere! Hercules?

Eventually after a long period of pressure Phoenix conceded a penalty in a kickable position and York did not give up the chance to regain the lead. But almost immediately after, Phoenix took the lead again as York returned the favour and conceded a penalty near their posts. The half finished with Phoenix in front 10-8.

During the half time period Coach Senior reiterated that Phoenix was dominating first phase ball and York should not be in this game. If we could stop giving the ball away in the loose and conceding silly penalties then we would be clear by now.

Almost immediately in the second half Phoenix found themselves with a penalty just within the oppositions half. Miller hit a great kick into the corner and Phoenix won their lineout and controlled a superb drive to get the try. Ian Oliver the scorer. Miller converted.

Phoenix followed the try with more very effective forward work, drives from the lineout and some strong running around the tackle area. But the stubborn York defence held firm and managed to clear their lines. Eventually, York found themselves with a scrum on the Phoenix twenty two. A pick up blind and some good handling gave the York winger just enough room to skip pass the struggling Burton to get in the corner, a well crafted try.

Again, Phoenix found themselves within reach by the opposition, but we responded well and got ourselves camped in the York twenty two again. From a scrum ten yards out, a set move led by Germain enabled Phoenix to drive over the York line. This time it was Dan ‘absolutely not the fattest and slowest player at the club’ Morris who skilfully protected the ball to get over the line, his second of the game.

The last ten minutes of the game were played around the middle of the park with not much happening. The only noticeable event would be the York twelve picking up another big hit scalp. This time it was substitute Taylor who got boshed. At least this time he did not get up and shake his hand. Ah, good hit sir, good hit! The game finished with a single penalty converted by Miller to give Phoenix their first back to back league victories of the season. 25-13.

In summary of the game, I think it was nailed at half time by Coach Senior, we was dominating first phase and thus starving York of possession. But then we would give it back to them in the loose, in the way of silly penalties and poor rucking. There was absolutely no reason why it could not have been a bigger score. I believe a bit more discipline and clinical finishing would really drive us on to big things this season. But a win was taken and two points in the top pocket again.