Phoenix secured back to back home wins with a hard fought 23-18 victory
against local rivals Pontefract avenging a narrow defeat at Moor Lane
earlier this season.

Phoenix led 13-3 at half time with a complete first-half performance that
must have pleased the coaching staff and home support. The defence was
outstanding against a very capable and dangerous Pontefract side and the
game plan was well executed in attack with the Phoenix pack dominant.

Winger Dom Trinka, intercepted a long pass to race in from his own half after 20
minutes with a conversion and two penalties from the boot of centre George
Hotchen cancelling out an early Pontefract penalty.

Hotchen added another penalty shortly after the break but Pontefract
clawed their way back in to the game with a converted try after 55 minutes
cutting the deficit to 16-10.

Flanker Lex Fenton (pictured) forced his way over from a driven lineout with Hotchen adding a tricky conversion to restore a commanding 23-10 lead.

However the game was far from over and Pontefract dominated the final
quarter adding a penalty and an unconverted try to close the gap to 23-18.
The home side struggled to maintain their levels from the first 60 minutes
but much of this was down to Pontefract’s attacking capabilities as well as
a few defensive lapses, a lack of discipline and some poor touch kicking.

Phoenix rode their luck at times but their dogged defence held out and just
when it looked like Pontefract would steal the game they were unable to
convert try scoring opportunities in the dying moments so it was the home
side that celebrated at the final whistle with a mixture of joy and relief.

Phoenix Seconds took a depleted side to Pontefract and came off second best going down 26-7 in their YRFU Championship fixture. Playing with only 14 men and carrying a couple of injuries Phoenix were still in the game at 7-apiece until the last ten minutes thanks to an Adam Fenney try and a James Atkinson conversion midway through the second half.

However the home side with strength and depth and some late fast legs scored three late tries to take victory in a hard fought but entertaining match and both sides were applauded for their efforts.

On Sunday the Demons First XV put in a solid home performance to beat Coalville 17-7. Trailing at the break 5-7 the Demons controlled the second half well, making good use of a breeze behind them and they ran in two excellent tries to seal the victory and secure four more league points.

The Second XV did not do so well on their trip to Malton & Norton, though like their male counterparts the day before they travelled light on numbers. Despite opening the scoring with the first try of the game they eventually went down 61-5.