Doncaster Rugby Club

Friendly

Huddersfield YMCA 36 Doncaster Phoenix 26

With Knottingley cancelling the initial fixture arranged Phoenix picked up - on league status - a harder encounter when they travelled to Yorkshire 1 outfit Huddersfield YMCA. Phoenix gave a decent account of themselves on a prefect afternoon for rugby on an equally perfect playing surface.

With stalwart Longworth winning the toss the visitors opted to kick into the wind up the diagonal slope (if that is a correct interpretation – Burts).  It was Phoenix who started strongly with the pack taking it to the home side and applying pressure in their half. Having gained field position in the left corner they opted for a line out which was spun and allowed centre Lowcock to cut back inside the defence and go over with scrum half Millar adding the points.

Phoenix then maintained the pressure for the next five minutes with the forwards seeming to hold their own with Fielding, Liddle, Smith and Malton all providing contributions to the work ethic.

It was when Phoenix were pressuring that play broke down in midfield where the home side capitalised on the error and kicked through to go and equalise under the posts.

Having gained the impetus it was the home side that then increased their lead with two more scores through errors in the Phoenix defence that afforded them a 17-7 lead at half time.

After the break YMCA then further increased their lead through their speedy winger Ryder.

However Phoenix not to be out done responded by picking up the play with forwards and applying a 10 man game with at one point an impressive 20 yard driving maul that allowed them to gain territory in the YMCA territory with the home side winning a scrum five yards out. It was from the scrum that the front row squeezed a ball against the head and wheeled to allow veteran number 8, Farley to barge over from close range and Millar reducing the deficit by seven points.

It was the forwards again that kept up the pressure and again stepped in to YMCA territory and battered the home side try line with some desperate defence required they killed the ball and from a quick tap Fielding gathered and went over for a score with Millar’s trusty boot adding the two.

However the home side sealed the win on the day with a further two tries from around the far fringes with Ryder completing his hat trick. Phoenix were to have the last say with a score from ~Phoenix debutant Thomas to record a 36-26 score line in an entertaining game.

Phoenix can come away knowing they put up a good show with the pack maintain parity with their Yorkshire 1 counterparts with Fielding, Malton and Smith all putting their hands up to the selectors – as did Farley but he may prove scuppered by the Phoenix youth development policy. Phoenix need to look at their defensive positioning to stem the scores around the fringes and if they do so should look forward to a fruitful season.