All Golds v Oxford KPL1 2017 Final

PHOENIX EDGE THE FOREST
Cheltenham Phoenix edged
a tremendous game when
they beat local rivals Forest
Bulldogs
28-48 in the top of their table
West of England encounter
at Berry Hill on Saturday.
Both sides took unbeaten
records into the game but
it was Phoenix who came
away from the game with
their record still in-tact by
outscoring their opposition
eight tries to five.
WRITTEN BY MIKE HUGHES
Forest Bulldogs 28 v Cheltenham Phoenix 48
It was a highly competitive
and hugely entertaining affair
which was a tremendous
advert for the sport of rugby
league in the south-west. The
physicality was huge and
neither side was prepared
to give an inch. It was also a
game of high skill level and
very few mistakes and both
sides had to work hard for
their points.
The Bulldogs were first out of
the blocks and Sam Thomas
scored a well worked try from
their first real opportunity
after only three minutes.
Adam Dommett replied for
the visitors and the game
was developing into a real
end-to-end arm wrestle. A
further Bulldogs try from
Harry Howard was cancelled
out by Henry Davies and
the sides were still locked
together with 30 minutes on
the clock.
The end of the first half very
much belonged to Phoenix
and a superb length of the
field try, started by excellent
work by full-back Zack
Taylor and finished in style
by winger Connor McGregor
nudged the visitors ahead
for the first time. Davies
stretched the lead with
the last play of the half
and Phoenix went into the
interval with a 10-24 lead.
It was obvious to the healthy
sized crowd that the first
score of the second half
would be pivotal and the
Bulldogs threw everything at
their opponents in an effort
to score it.
Phoenix held firm however
and, after defending three
consecutive sets on their
own line they broke up
the other end of the pitch
and scored an excellent
try through Dale Walters.
Scrum-half Sam Hughes
added a fine individual try
and the Cheltenham side
had pulled clear at 10-36. It
was the defining period of
the game.
Skipper Dommett crossed
for his second try and Ryan
Lewis finished off a sweeping
move to score in the corner.
Both tries were converted
by Hughes who finished the
game with eight conversions
from eight attempts.
To their credit the Bulldogs
refused to lie down and
ended the game strongly.
With ten minutes still on the
clock the home side scored
under the posts and added
another when they scored
again immediately from the
kick-off. Any hopes of the
unlikeliest of come-backs
quickly evaporated, however,
as Phoenix regained control
of both the ball and fieldposition
and although the
home side ended the game
with try Phoenix had done
enough and ran out worthy
winners.
The two teams remain first
and second in the West of
England Pool One and meet
again in Cheltenham on 29
July.
17
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