1st XV
Matches
Sat 21 Dec 2019  ·  Midlands Premier
Doncaster Phoenix
1st XV
Tries: J Wright (2), W Taylor, M Drennan, R ListConversions: W Burden (4)Penalties: W BurdenSent Off: M Ashman: Penalty TryYellow Carded: J Khalil, M Drennan
43
40
Paviors
Phoenix v Paviors serves up Xmas Cracker

Phoenix v Paviors serves up Xmas Cracker

Bill Farley23 Dec 2019 - 21:27
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Doncaster Phoenix vs Paviors – Saturday 21st December 2019 Full Time 43 - 40

Doncaster Phoenix and Paviors treated a bumper festive crowd at Castle Park to real Christmas cracker with an 83 point, 12 try feast of a game which was only decided by a penalty try awarded to Phoenix well into stoppage time.

The home side were only in the lead for the first five minutes after fly-half Will Burden’s successful penalty and spent the next 80 minutes chasing their Nottinghamshire rivals who despite a recent dip in form were good value on the day.

After conceding that early score Paviors hit back with two quick tries and a conversion to take a 12 – 3 lead. Undaunted Phoenix recovered and winger James Wright continued his good recent scoring form with a try in the corner, converted by Burden but again the visitors quickly restored their lead to 19-10 with a pushover converted try on 25 minutes.

Again Phoenix fought back and on the half hour mark flanker Will Taylor went over the whitewash and with Burden adding the extras Phoenix stayed in touch only for Paviors to once again hit back within minutes to score their fourth try of the half and see it converted.

Despite suffering a yellow card and being reduced to 14 men for the final few minutes of the half the home side showed why they are such a danger out wide and it was no surprise that after good hands through forwards and backs Wright went in for his second try and although it went unconverted they were back in game now trailing only 22 – 26.

Phoenix had to make a few half-time adjustments following the yellow card and an injury to centre Dan Greenslade meant flanker Taylor moved in to the back line and perhaps this affected early concentration as Paviors opened up the second half with another converted try to edge ahead again at 22 -33.

Once restored to full numbers Phoenix stepped up a gear and sealed a try bonus point when scrum-half Matty Drennan went over and Burden again added the conversion from wide out after 50 minutes to bring the score back to 29-33.

The next twenty minutes or so saw a bit of a midfield arm wrestle with Paviors looking to slow the game down at all opportunities and the most influential man on the park being the referee with a series of controversial decisions. The first coming on 70 minutes when Paviors were awarded a soft penalty which after a long delay fly half Billam missed the posts, a miss which later proved key to the final result.

From the resulting drop-out by Phoenix there was a glaring knock-on by the Paviors hooker in open field which the referee missed and in the subsequent attack Drennan was yellow carded for a deliberate knock down. Paviors kicked to touch for a line out from which an attack was launched resulting in a disputed pushover try which the Phoenix defenders were adamant that they had in fact grounded the ball, but the referee saw otherwise and in the following discussions winger Mitch Ashman was red carded for verbal abuse. Visiting fly-half Billam added the extras to give them a 29-40 lead with only five minutes on the clock but Phoenix were down to 13 men and seemed to have little hope of securing much from the game.

But spurred on by great home support they launched another attack and now it was Paviors on the defence and giving penalties – in their own 22 metre area. From one attack the Phoenix pack took charge and drove the visitors back and having been held up fly half Burden slipped the ball inside for prop Richard List to score a try which Burden again converted to reduce the deficit down to 36-40.

With literally seconds on the clock Phoenix received from the kick-off and as they normally do went straight on the attack and after another midfield penalty against Paviors, the home side went deep into their territory with a kick from Burden.

The Phoenix crowd, and especially their forwards were now on top and after a couple of drives were pulled down by Paviors who also now received a yellow card and Phoenix applied more pressure with the front row of List, Pete Atkinson and Scott Wilson dominating the set-piece. The referee’s final action, after four consecutive Paviors penalties was to award a penalty try to Phoenix as the final act of the game and see the home side secure a five point 43 – 40 win.

So that’s four wins on the bounce for Phoenix, but none as dramatic as this one, and sees a great end to the year, a run they will be looking to extend when they face struggling Peterborough Lions at Castle Park on the 4th January kick-off 2.15pm

Match details

Match date

Sat 21 Dec 2019

Kickoff

TBC

Competition

Midlands Premier

League position

8
Doncaster Phoenix
9
Paviors
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Primary Club Sponsor - TFG Capital
Player sponsor - Taylor Wimpey