Doncaster Rugby Club

Phoenix travelled to league leaders and came away putting up a perfomrance that had exceeded previous weeks but still failed to overcome the leaders dogged determination to maintain their league position.

Playing with the prevailing wind to their advantage Phoenix failed to use the immediate advantage and conceded the first try in the opening minutes when the home side opted to spin the ball wide into the hand of the speedy full back who darted down the right wing, evaded the tackle and went over in the corner 5-0

For the rest of the half Phoenix maintained the use of the wind and pinnded the home side into their half but were gulity of not executing the final drive when gaining field advantage and failed to breach the Hessle try line.

Hessle effectivelt secured their win again in the opening minute of the kick where the ball was turned over form the kick off and the Hessle prop went on a spiralling run to evade the lack luster defence to go over. Hessle then added another 7 points when using the wind the faded blind, fooling the defence to cover and reversing the play to allow Pearce to barge through the gap for another score.

Phoenix then saved their best for last wth pack mto the fore with surging runs from Taylor and defence banging the pressure into the elements allowing the ball to be secured and sling the ball to the expectant Burton to go over in the right corner, with Millar banging over the most difficult of kicks from the touch line into the wind.

Burton then gave Phoenix hope taking a 'slightly' forward swith pass from  Thomas to sprint half the pitch to go over under the posts and set up a tense last few minutes for the home side.

Hessle defecne was however up to the task and kept the maurading Phoenix at bay and scored a 19-14 win in an entertaining encounter in difficult condiitons.