Rotherham Phoenix rugby club, news, info and results

Phoenix second team posted their first win of the season in a hard fought display against a powerfull Wath pack, during the first half Phoenix defended stoutly and were unlucky to go behind. For Phoenix however this was about player development and subsiquently they blooded some new players, who rose to the challange and will no doubt be looking to impress in future to be given the opportunity to play for the firsts. Phoenix line out performed well, Gary Lester having a near 100% throwing accuracy and with the commanding presence of John Billings and Ben Hastie, coupled with the nimble stealing of Matt Trueman, Phoenix won nearly every line out. However it was in the scrums that Phoenix struggled, and one on their own try line saw Wath take the lead. The second half was a different affair entirely Phoenix impressive prop Joe Crawley gradually came into the game more, and the continuing pressure began to wear down the Wath team, the Phoenix backs began to fire and a well worked move was finished off with the excellent Jon Ross touching down. Phoenix then began to build more on their expansive game and scored a further two tries through Owen Swift and Andy Stewart. The game itself was a scrappy affair, with several bizzare reffereeing decisions effecting the flow of the game. But ultimately a nice Christmas present to finish the year off for the seconds with a win.

The Phoenix second team were unable to emulate the firsts as they went down in the local derby against Rotherham Clifton, the Phoenix pack battled well and were rewarded with a good try from skipper Jamie Morris, which was converted by Jon Ratcliffe. In the second half however the Clifton team were unable to field a front row and the game reverted to uncompetitive scrums, this in turn took the edge away from Phoenix who up until that point were performing well in the scrums, however Phoenix never surrendered and Gareth Hicks nearly crashed over for his first try. In only their fifth game the Phoenix seconds can hold their head high against a team unbeaten in eleven games.