Doncaster Phoenix 0 Airebrough 0
Saturday saw the delayed of the new league season with the visit of newly promoted Airebrough to Castle Park. Phoenix picked from strength and the prospect of a lively encounter ensued with the Leeds side having convincingly beat Stanley the week before.
It was the visitors who had the better of the early exchanges with the fly half putting Airebrough deep into Phoenix territory, Phoenix were up to the task and the defence held firm with no quarter gained.
Phoenix then gained the upper hand and pressured the visitors half and some lively exchanges were experienced up front. With the home side applying pressure they accessed the twenty-two but resolute Airebrough defence combined with spoiling tactics and Phoenix’s last pass going astray saw the pressure come to nothing! In these exchanges Tyrer and Germain were held short when the line beckoned.
It was then the visitors turn to respond and with their dominance in the set they applied a few forays and were kept at bay by well drilled Phoenix back defence who have looked solid under coach Conway’s direction and a try saving tackle from Farley on the Airebrough winger when he saw glory looming!
The score remained deadlocked on the whistle and on the turn round it was Phoenix to play uphill. Saying that Phoenix applied their dominance and the visitors again had to defend to the fore.
For long periods of play Phoenix pressured the Airebrough line and were victims of disruptive defence, which resulted in the visiting lock having ten minutes in the sin bin. In this period Phoenix again set up camp in the twenty-two to be thwarted by defence that went un-penalised or the last play spoiled by the wet conditions or unforced error.
Thirty minutes in Phoenix did feel they broke the deadlock with a deft little kick through from Hogben ten yards out with Gray advancing through to touch down – however the referee adjudged the touch to be knocked on despite some amazed faces from Phoenix and relieved Airebrough faces.
Ellis then had the opportunity with a difficult kick on the left thirty-five yards out but again went short; this was returned by a rather ambitious attempt by the Airebrough fly half fifty-five yards out to steal glory again missing the mark.
The final whistle brought the share of the spoils with Phoenix probably feeling the more aggrieved with the disallowed try. However positives from the game were that again the defence was excellent and that Phoenix keep their unbeaten stretch going against a side that harbour strong ambition this year.
In thirty years of playing I can’t recall ever playing a nil-nil game and Phoenix need to remain positive for next weeks Powergen Vase game where they entertain Yorkshire 3 side Heath at Castle Park. |
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