Phoenix travelled to local rivals Barnsley expecting a tough time on hearing of their 60 plus drubbing the previous week to Yarnbury and the recruitment drive over the closed season that saw Phoenix face a different side they encountered in their last Castle Park outing.

On a perfect pitch and the condition good the scene was set and after a couple of encouraging forays into Barnsley territory it was the home side that opened the account for the afternoon when the Barnsley centre Hinchcliffe found a gap midfield from the Phoenix 22 and raced through to evade the Phoenix defence and go under with fly half Jensen adding the conversion.

From this point of the proceedings it was all the home side with Jensen further increasing the lead courtesy of Phoenix ill discipline and then on the 15 minute mark Barnsley winger Cheetham collected and went over on the left and the Barnsley crowd must have been anticipating another high scoring victory.

Matters were soon made worse with Conway leaving the pitch with a bloodied mouth after choosing to remonstrate with 2 Barnsley forwards and coming off worse and Morris yellow carded for coming in the side.

However Phoenix rallied and held off Barnsley pressure to survive the 14 man period unscathed and it was when restored to the 15 man status that Barnsley opted to attack right however debutant Robinson read the play and intercepted at the Phoenix 30 and charged 60 yards and offloaded to the supporting Elliot who went over on 37th minute to make the half time score line 15-5.

For most of the second half it was the away side in ascendancy with the pack scavenging magnificently and the line out functioning 100% better than the week previous that it was only a matter of time from a scrum on the left that Byrne collected blind and crashed over with Robinson converting 15-12.

The only negative of the afternoon and ultimately a factor that cost Phoenix dear was failure to maintain discipline no sooner than reducing the deficit they impeded in home territory allowing Jenson anther easy 3 points.

On the 60 minute mark Phoenix then took the lead where they won the line out five metres out with Horrocks now sublime in set collected with Farley coming round to tide and nudge the five metres to capture a 19-18 lead.

Again Phoenix didn’t learn their lessons and failed to maintain discipline in home territory allowing Jenson to slot a further 6 points – one courtesy of Phoenix chat back that gifted him the opportunity.

Phoenix were to have the last say when interplay allowed a foray into Barnsley 22 with some good forward-back interplay and moving the ball left and then coming back right a grateful Henry Taylor was on hand to capture the glory and charge over to tie the score but more importantly gaining the bonus point for Phoenix’s forth try. Despite a worthy effort from Irish Stew for the conversion the score was tied and that’s how it ended.

Phoenix exited the pitch joyful in the knowledge they had come back to tie the game but should be rueful that indiscipline ultimately cost them the victory!