Uxbridge secure first win of season in Phoenix friendly

With preseason coming to close, we re-united with old friends Phoenix RFC making the journey to down the M40 after a few of their own pre-season games. They found an experienced Uxbridge side under new Coach Nick Lambert with many of the team from last year returning, and buoyed with some strong new signings over the summer.

Uxbridge started as they always did, not paying attention to what is going on around them allowing Phoenix to strip the ball in contact and dart down the blind side to open the scoring and take an early 7-0 lead.

This whirred Uxbridge into action and returned fire with strong carries from returning No.8 Sam Dillamore, lock Simon Coldwell and centre Tom Rainey.

Uxbridge found more joy in open play moving the ball swiftly around the pitch and getting into the right areas the threaten the visitors line. The pressure eventually told with Coldwell scoring from a pick and go from short range.

Fly-half Ieuan Jones added an additional penalty on the stroke of half-time to take a 10-7 lead into the break.

The second quarter was fairly uneventful with neither side able to get a foot hold in the game, with the visitors enjoying the upper hand at the scrum. Having threatened the several times, Phoenix were denied by good work from Rainey and Cowper (you’d never guess he wrote this report) to keep the ball of the ground and the score at seven.

Brexit law-enforcer extraordinaire Dan Evans come off the bench to conduct proceedings at scrum-half, generating quick ball with good continuity, moving the Phoenix players around the park.

This eventually paid dividends as Uxbridge scored twice in five minutes out wide through back rowers Sam Cater and the mercurial Kyle Buckingham. The former try was converted to take the final score to 22-7.

In all there were many positives to take from the game- good organisation in defence, good discipline and good-offloading in attack.

Attention now turns to this week where the 1st XV will be in action in their first league game against Staines at home. Kick-off is at 15:00.

All players are requested to make themselves available and all are welcome to come down and support.