Windsor RFC U14's v Slough Phoenix (Rematch)
25th April 2004by Dr FT Bosh (with P Eccles, R Eccles and S Turner)
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Twickenham cancelled the last fixture of the season against Windsor, so when Slough Phoenix called, requesting a re-match (Windsor won their earlier meeting 15 – 5), Head Coach Peter Eccles grabbed the opportunity. With the Windsor clubhouse undergoing redevelopment and the Phoenix pitches being reseeded Maidenhead RFC, very kindly, offered the use of their facilities. With several of Windsor’s players busy at the County 10’s it would be an interesting test for the squad, who have just returned from a highly enjoyable and successful tour of the Low Country.
Phoenix kicked to Windsor to start off and it was clear from the outset that Windsor were going to carry on expressing the great team spirit that they have developed all season and that reached a crescendo in Holland. Second row David Lisk fielded the ball and Windsor set up a solid platform for the backs. Early speculative runs from fly half Jonny Whitehead and centre Richie Eccles gained good ground and in the third phase prop Sam Phillips broke away from the maul and took a direct route towards the Phoenix try line. Breaking three tackles he forced his way over to score an unconverted try.
From the restart Windsor started to spread the ball around. Winger Sam Turner got possession of the ball, just inside the Phoenix half and used his pace to get around his opposite number, handing off the covering centre’s tackle he still had the full back to beat. Route one was his chosen option and the full back’s tackle was broken to allow Turner to run in under the posts. Tom Bouch converted the try.
When Turner was substituted with an aggravated hip injury, Phoenix were able to exploit the three quarter reshuffle to score a good winger’s try of their own. Windsor were determined to come back quickly and some strong work in the pack from Baldeep Sahota ensured that scrum half Peter Lewis got some good ball to work with. Tom Bouch, playing at winger, made a penetrating run, but was caught, just short of the line. The Windsor pack joined the break down, en masse, and were too strong for Phoenix to stop. Bouch was helped along for the last few yards and got the ball down for a great team try, which Bouch then converted.
Windsor kept the pressure on when Jonny Whitehead’s mazy run was not shut down and he darted in to score a superb solo effort.
Phoenix is not a team that lies down and they continued to probe and press into the Windsor defences. The Windsor backs were up quickly, tackled resolutely and the centre of the field was barred for Phoenix. Their speeding winger was always a threat and, as half time approached, he got into space and was able to use his considerable pace to sprint in another good score.
Windsor clearly wanted to score again before half time and found they had the chance when they regained possession following a Phoenix forwards penalty. Andrew Pedder’s boot gave Windsor superb field position and the ball was whipped out to the backs. A half break from centre Richie Eccles gave Tom Bouch space and Eccles’s perfectly weighted pass put the Windsor winger in for his second converted try.
In the second half Windsor continued in the same vein and it was not long before Jonny Whitehead found himself 10 yards out, with options. The Phoenix fly half anticipated a pass and was left looking very flat footed when Whitehead cut sharply inside him and then angled his run to the Phoenix try line for another converted try.
The Phoenix winger continued to threaten, until Sam Turner returned to the field for Windsor. On the next three Phoenix possessions the winger was closed down and tackled hard into touch or the ground. With the flanks sealed up it appeared to be game over for Phoenix. Sam Turner scored another when a perfectly timed “draw and pass” from Tom Bouch gave him a simple run in and when an excellently controlled forward drive put Sam Phillips over for another score.
Phoenix battled to the last and were rewarded with an excellent forward drive, capped off by a score from their strong No8. All in all, the fixture was an excellent end to the main season for Windsor. Phoenix are only in their second season and have developed a great deal since their earlier encounter with Windsor, but with six County players out, it is clear that Windsor have developed more over the past six months.
Result – Windsor 52 – Phoenix 17
Scorers: Trys: Turner (2), Philips (2), Bouch (2), Whitehead (2)
Conversions: Bouch (6)