Doncaster Rugby Club

Phoenix travelled to Hull for the second consecutive week in the second round of the Trophy and in an entertaining close encounter they failed to emulate their current league form.

The side saw many changes including a start for Sanderson at prop, a Henry Taylor debut at blind side flanker, Tom Elliot at scrum half, Stewart in at fly half, Parnell back at centre and Greenslade resorting to wing.

On a day where the weather can only be declared as variable it was Phoenix who started with the greater possession and were rewarded an early penalty in the first five which Stewart went close but to no avail. Maintaining the pressure the Phoenix pack kept possession but were met with resilient Hull defence and failed to threaten the home line.

On the home side’s first foray into Phoenix territory after dubious defending on the visitors part they were to come away with the first score. Phoenix won a scrum in front of their stick and won the ball, however strong Hull pressure meant that the ball was spilled at the back allowing the offence to pounce on the vacant ball and score under the sticks and add the extra two points.

Phoenix squandered another penalty chance which allowed Hullensians to increase their lead after the ball popped out of the ruck forty out with the scrum half taking advantage of a free blind side to make yardage into the Phoenix twenty two, her e they maintained the pressure on the Phoenix line with the result a ball popping to the prop who barged Stewart out the way and increase the lead by another five points and at the half way point Hullensians had a twelve point advantage at the half way mark.

The second half started with a torrential down pour of hail, which saw all but the hardened spectator dive for cover. It was Phoenix who in pursuit of the deficit took the game to home side again to meet resilient defence.

Fifteen minutes in Phoenix reduced the deficit courtesy of the hard working Germaine who took the ball from an advancing ruck twenty out and broke two tackles to go over and reduce the deficit to seven.

The visitors then threw all they could at the home side who defended strongly and were to keep Phoenix at bay in the now ever muddying conditions. Having figured out that the pick and drive was the best option to take to the home side and were duly rewarded with an infringement in front of the posts which Stewart slotted over with seven minutes to go.

The last few minutes was an entertaining affair with Phoenix trying all they could to breach the home defence camping in their twenty two but to no avail and credit has to go to Hull who weathered the storm both physically and metaphorically to ensure passage to the next round.

 Next week sees Hullensians return the favour when they have to visit Castle Park in the league which should prove another entertaining affair with the Hull side having taken the honours in the first encounter.

Phoenix seconds maintained their good run with a 29-17 over Doncaster Dragons