|
The pre season friendly was kicked off at 2:10 on what was a bluster day at the narrow Bannockburn pitch. The Phoenix game plan remained the same, expansive controlled rugby. The early exchanges were dominated by loud whistle blasts, the Phoenix penalised for what would become a running theme, foul play at the tackle situation. Bannockburn get through to break the deadlock. 0-7 with 10 minutes gone. Time after time the Phoenix line came under heavy fire from a pack intent on bludgeoning their way over the line. Somewhat ironically it ended when ex Phoenix President Dougie Campbell was forced into an early bath, knocking the ball on, as his shoulder became the first casualty of the day. The ensuing breakout gave Paul Kincaid, the phoenix gasman, his first chance to ply his trade. He took it with both hands, phoenix gaining ground and respite. The rest of the first quarter played out with the two teams evenly matched. The second quarter saw an early phoenix break through. Twenty-three minutes in, we crossed the line after good play. Phoenix were up and running. The conversion on a blustery day was difficult, and so the score remained 5-7 A period of phoenix pressure was coming, and in no small part due to aggressive defence, characterised by an open field culling, Mark Fraser stepping up from fullback to smote the outside centre. And so the attack came, wave upon wave of phoenix break, recycle and break. Scrappy would be fair, Bannockburn were not going to make it easy, and phoenix uncharacteristically not securing the ruck quickly. A narrow side dart from 10 metres out gave the phoenix hope; the bench and support sensing another try. Up stepped Rab McEwan with a bullish straight run through the two standing defenders. Pretty it was not, effective it certainly was, and close enough to the posts to allow Andy Denholm to slot his first conversion of the day. 12-7 with 31 minutes gone. Still not playing well, Phoenix were getting frustrated. Bannockburn would rally, with the considerable help of a refereeing decision or twenty. Poor calls meant that phoenix rapidly lost ground, and approaching their line, heads were down. The Bannockburn 7 was in no mood to offer condolences, battering through a half-hearted challenge to land himself a try. His fly half popped over the conversion to give Phoenix a moment of pause. This match would not be a run away victory. 12-14 and 7 minutes of the first half to go. Handling errors and another handful of gaffes from Bannockburn’s 16th man saw that the half petered out without incident. The second half once again saw phoenix take full advantage of rolling subs, making wholesale changes to the line up. Perhaps this would change the fortunes. Ronny Pitt finds himself in a massive gap in midfield and charges the phoenix on. Going down the hill Phoenix find less resistance, and quickly cross the line. The conversion adds two extra points, stretching the phoenix to a more comfortable distance. 19-14. The pattern of play though is more stable, and Nick Gallacher wants a piece of the rampaging action Ronnie started. Ending metres from the line, Nick’s effort was clearly the run of the match so far, and allowed a platform that phoenix would convert, but the referee deemed the ball held up. Should Wednesdays training session not been about holding our tongues, the position would likely have been lost to a Bannockburn penalty. A quick "That’s OK" from Captain Fraser Thomson calms the troops, scrum down. A couple more phases and penalties for the phoenix culminate in a soft try. Nick Gallacher did well to roll two tackles, but a better side would not have shipped it. Happy though, but conversion-less, the score sits at 24-14. The match deteriorates into scrappy play, nether side really creating or holding steady. The third quarter finishes. Much still to play for. Apparently the phoenix effort is faltering. The start of the last quarter sees Bannockburn’s winger score a simple try, many poorly missed tackles gifting the pace man 5 points. Conversion added, the points sit at 24-21. Still scrappy the match takes a period of continual errors, handling in nature. Passing and catching are proving to be more difficult than usual. Giving away cheap territory is always dangerous. So it would prove when ten minutes to play a dubious penalty is awarded. The phoenix isn’t expecting the Bannockburn ten to step up and slot 3, and the crowd aren’t pleased. The scores even as they are: 24 a piece. Who has it in the tank to convert a win from here? Two sequences of play give phoenix hope, and dash it at the same time. Midfield breaks and right wing action advance us u the field, only for handling errors and penalties to quickly scrub the advance and plant us in our 22. Cooper is down on their 22, his knee is a mess. Referee forces play on. Phoenix lines advance back up the field. It is clear that Bannockburn’s ten and 12 are leaking breaks. We capitalise. Its like we are trying to reclaim the ground Cooper is still lying in. Eventually the ref stops the game to see that he is removed safely. Our friendly neighbour hood Gingles sees to it that the referee gets an argument. He is however quickly put in his place by a man who by Bannockburn accounts played the same way, never accepting that he could possibly be wrong. Coops off and victory still undecided, phoenix possession marches us forwards. Entering the twenty-two was easy. Getting across the line however took several phases of play. Nice inter swapping between Duncan and Denholm at 9 means the ball is quick. Repeated forward charges aren’t the Phoenix way, but reliable and safe hands the big men are today. They reap the rewards, but the conversion does not follow. 31-24. Disappointed the phoenix players cannot truly enjoy victory. It should have been more, and certainly more convincingly. We will however maintain our 100% record: Undefeated going into the season, and what’s more, winning whilst playing badly. A sign of champions? Training Wednesday is going to be painful. |
