EDF Junior Vase
Doncaster Phoenix 54 Bury 3
Guest Reporter: Dan ‘whittling’ Morris
After a thrilling win against arch rivals Thorne last week it was time for Phoenix to play their first EDF Junior Vase game of the season against a table topping Bury. Both teams had one aim, a victory and progression into the next round to keep their Twickenham hopes alive.
The Phoenix side was much changed from the one that played against Thorne. In the pack Ali Wood came in at hooker and Adi Sheehan in at 2nd row for Mark Longworth who was off clippety clopping elsewhere. Pete Atkinson slotted in at seven and Treacle returned to eight after a few weeks out. The backs were boosted by the return of Tim 'P&O' Elliot with Joe Watts coming in to scrum half for the first time since Baildon.
The game started with Bury looking the stronger side for the opening five. Their pacey backs causing a few concerns out wide which eventually led to a penalty in front of the posts. 0-3. The Phoenix pack then started to function, some good back row moves from the middle of the park led to two quick penalties conceded by their pest of a seven which Jazz kicked to get our noses in front. 6-3. We stayed there.
Good quick ball provided by the dominating pack then led to Tim Elliot ghosting past his opposite number to leave himself one on one with the full back, a lame attempt at a dummy, followed by a nicely floated pass to Tom 'Speedy Gonzalez, the fasted rat in the west' Elliot diving over in the corner. Conversion missed. 11-3.
Some good turnovers by Wood and Atkinson managed to kill off any attempt at a quick reply by Bury and Phoenix just grew in confidence. There was only going to be one victor from this point on. A five yard scrum after some solid possession was picked by Jim 'Convict' Oakley who strolled unopposed over the Bury line. Easily converted by Jazz. 18-3.
Within seconds of the kick off Phoenix were knocking on the door again after some good yardage by Sheehan through the middle and Brookfield and Tom Elliot on the left. A quick call of an overlap from a ruck five yards out, through the hands, and Jazz was in. There was a moment when the supposedly top scoring prop Fielding was tempted to go himself but a firm word from Morris convinced him to pass. I won't repeat it. Jazz converted. 25-3.
Another mini fight back by the Bury backs gave them an opportunity out wide, but old hand Jazz was there to cover, jump up and steal the ball, but the ref deemed it illegal and gave a penalty against. Jazz's face burned with anger, even turning his hair red, and from the quick tap sent a solid forearm across the face of the Bury seven. A little scuffle with a couple of quick jabs from our serial scrapper Oakley led to Jazz going in the bin for the initial offence. But Phoenix did not falter, with the Bury ten missing touch form the penalty Phoenix kept momentum. Another great break by Tim Elliot grinning as he glided through again, a few quick phases and a trundle by Morris, who was on the wing while Jazz was in the bin led to Adi Sheehan barging over from close range. Conversion missed. 30-3. Half Time.
After a fine half time talk by Coach Senior, which Oli admitted later 'did not know what he was going on about', Phoenix took to the field and kept the pace of the game going. A good drive from a Phoenix lineout on the opposition 22 led to Greenslade taking a 'Yatesy Pop' and then with his Inspector Gadget arms he just managed to reach the line under the sticks. Easily converted by Greenslade. 37-3.
Straight off the kick off Phoenix just kept going forward. A back row move down the blind fronted by Oakley led to Tom Elliot pacing into the corner for his second of the game put in by Tim Elliot again. Jazz converted. 44-3. An almost identical move followed but this time it was Joe Watts who showed enough composure to turn the Bury winger inside out and then send a nicely weighted pass to Tom Elliot who again gassed his winger to score in the corner. Conversion missed. 49-3.
The next 10-15 minutes became a little scrappy with Phoenix squandering a few chances with knock-ons and forward passes. I’m sure Burton wasn't playing but it certainly seemed like he was at that stage. But every time Phoenix gave the ball back to Bury, the pack turned them over. The front row took at least five Bury scrums and Wood, Oliver and Atkinson were effective around the tackle area. Fitness levels started to take effect and Phoenix looked the fitter side except Sheehan who was walking at this stage after sprinting 50 yards after the whistle had gone. He never recovered. This was to the delight of Oliver as he was overtaking people rather than being regularly overtaken by the galloping Longworth.
The last try of the game which in my opinion was a fantastic try. A simple inside ball off Greenslade just outside the 22, led to Morris trampling over the Bury fly half and then the full back and he finished by holding off the winger while carrying the seven on his back, before crashing over the line. Conversion missed 54-3.
The last ten minutes were pretty much seen out with neither side being threatened and the final whistle went with Phoenix getting the result they wanted.
Overall Phoenix performed well, the pack dominated and the backs looked much more assured. A lower penalty count and better handling could really have turned the game into a 60 or 70 pointer. But four tries in either half managed to finish off Bury. Phoenix looked comfortable all game but a bit more decisiveness could really have but the game to bed in the first half. Good win and a good day. Lets take it to Cass! |
