SATURDAY 8^TH SEPTEMBER – DRIFTERS 2NDS 7 – 36 PHOENIX 2NDS

Inexperienced Drifters beaten by Ruthless Phoenix

A young Drifters side headed to Taplow to face a Phoenix side which had put over 50 points on them in the same fixture last season. The Drifters side containing only 5 players over the age of 21 faced off against a Phoenix 2^nd team which contained a number of more experienced players, with a few Drifters playing their first games for the club and also a number playing out of their usual position it hinted that it would be a hard day at the office for the Drifters.

The first 10 minutes saw the action switch back and forth between both teams halves with both Drifters and Phoenix coming close to crossing the opposing line. However the significantly bigger Phoenix pack began to take a hold of the scrummage as Drifters were pushed off of their own ball, a smart break down the right flank lead only stopped due to some last ditch defending by talented Drifters full back Nick Schneider, however the ensuing rucks lead to Phoenix battering their way over the Drifters line.

Unfortunately for Drifters the majority of the half continued in this vein with any time Drifters obtained promising field positioning the ball was either turned over by the stronger pack or due to some ruthless rucking by the Phoenix back row, with Phoenix also adding 19 more points thanks to strong running by their wingers and some great kicking from their full back. However Drifters managed to gain a small foot hold in the game when the quick thinking Drifters fly half Graham Holdaway took a quick tap penalty on the Phoenix 10 meter line then drawing men then passing to Drifters Captain Stuart Ashton who set off on a sparkling run, side stepping 3 players on  his way to putting the ball down under the posts. The conversion was kicked by Drifters young scrum half Oliver J Ashton.

The second half was a better affair with Drifters defending resolutely and the pack gaining confidence marshaled well by James Hamilton. Drifters conceded only two tries in the 2^nd half including one try by the Phoenix full back with a suspicious grounding. Overall Drifters should be proud of their performance today and also showing that Drifters minis and juniors set up has started to come to fruition with a number of the young squad having come via the system.

Final Score:

Drifters 2nds 7 – Phoenix 2nds 36