On Saturday Phoenix had to send another young, inexperienced side across to face local rivals Pontefract. Sadly another weekend of ongoing injuries, un-availability and working commitments meant that numbers were stretched - but credit must be given to the 18 lads who put a shirt on, worked hard for 80 minutes and were making tackles to the last play of the game.

Pontefract ran out easy winners, 83-0 in the end with 13 tries - some coming from excellent free flowing rugby, others from Phoenix errors and again, that lack of experience.

On occasions Phoenix got themselves into promising positions but couldn't convert into scores - the story of the season so far - and often gave up ball in attack from which the hosts countered to score.

Phoenix have one last game before Christmas, at home to Bradford Salem, who than ran close in the reverse fixture back in the autumn.

The festive break will hopefully give the lads some time to recover, re-group and go into the New Year with spirit and fight to the end of the season.

On Sunday the Demons had a day of mixed results, with the First team going down 26-10 at Trafford MV Ladies, but the Second team picked up a very impressive 42-20 bonus point win when hosting Ashfield Ladies at Castle Park.

Both sides again were a little under-strength with a few players un-available and injured so the Demons will be pleased to be taking a break into the New Year with both sides due to have fixtures on Sunday 11th January.