Selection saw a return to the team for number 8 Chris Planchant who was joined in a re-jigged back row by Pete Atkinson and Ryan Peacey allowing Scott Plevey to make a 1st start at hooker for 7 weeks. In the backs Phoenix were pleased to welcome back Dan Storey into the fly half shirt and Craig Deakin at fullback, both of who had missed the defeat at Scarborough.

An early exchange of penalties on 8 and 11 minutes were quickly followed by the opening try of the game as visitors Wath scored out wide with 15mins on the clock. From a line out on the half way line the Wath three-quarters moved the ball wide at pace outflanking the phoenix defence allowing winger Steve Mason to finish well in the left corner. The resulting conversion was unsuccesful, 3-8.

Phoenix replied 4 minutes later with Storey adding to his earlier effort to close the gap to 2 points (6-8). Doncaster looked to build a score and soon afterwards registered their 1st try of the day on 22 minutes through full back Craig Deakin who supported an excellent Dan smith carry and subsequent offload out of the tackle through the Wath midfield. The well-constructed try was converted by the accurate boot of Dan Storey to allow his team to retake the lead, 13-8.

Enjoying a profitable 10 minutes and playing some wonderful rugby Phoenix went on to extend their lead with a try from openside flanker Ryan Peacey on 29 minutes. Ben Millar, who was influential throughout, ran well onto a short delayed pass from Storey to crash through the 10-12 channel (with a slight suspicion of obstruction) to link with Peacey who held off the cover defence to score from 20 metres out. Again the try was converted by Dan Storey to build a healthy 20 points to 8 lead with half time fast approaching.

Wath however proved that they weren’t just here to make up the numbers and mauled their way back into the game right on the stroke of half time as they hit back through Scrum half Ian Barker who sniped off the back of a rolling maul for an unconverted try.

Half time score: Doncaster Phoenix 20-13 Wath Upon Dearne

Wath opened up the 2nd period with a well struck penalty to reduce the arrears to 4 points, 20-16. Phoenix however respond well engineering the try of the day as they ran the ball from well inside their own half, with backs and forwards combining well, allowing winger Jonny Stuart to apply the final touch as he demonstrated some good footwork to score in the far right corner. Storey was off target with the conversion but Peacey’s men had re-established the all-important 2 score cushion.

With the home side now dominating the contest and with their eyes firmly set on a bonus point try it finally came in the dying minutes of the game. Following a couple of failed tilts at the line from a driving lineout it looked like they would have to settle for four points however in the final minutes of the game the Phoenix pack were able to apply sufficient pressure to a Wath defensive scrum 5 metres from the line to force the error as the ball squirted out of the side of the set piece. Openside flanker Ryan Peacey was 1st to react and scooped the ball up well, claiming all 5 points in the process.

Final Score; Doncaster Phoenix 32 – 16 Wath Upon Dearne

There is no doubt about it, this was a very good performance against a tough Wath side who despite falling short of their top form made Phoenix work for everything they got throughout a physical 80 minutes of rugby. Phoenix played some well organised powerful attacking rugby which allowed them to control the game for the most part with the pack looking the most balanced of the season to date and the half backs orchestrating the game plan extremely well playing intelligent rugby in the correct areas of the pitch. This was definitely a demonstration of what this squad is capable of and a welcome reminder of some of last season’s attacking highlights.