Harrogate Pythons entertained recently relegated Doncaster Phoenix at The JSG, bathed in sunshine. This was the first ever meeting between the two clubs with Phoenix playing two levels higher just three seasons ago and prior to that in The Midlands Premier Division .
The Pythons took the lead after Phoenix fumbled the ball behind their own scrum. Returning Andy MacKay hacked the ball ahead causing the away side to kick the ball dead. Pythons 5m scrum. From the first phase Joel Misseldine breaks blind for his first of three. Ben Pryor, back with the kicking duties, adds the two from the touchline, 7-0 after 3 mins.
The Pythons win a penalty from the re start and Max Sharp drills the ball to 5m. Marcus Fotherby secures the line out ball, the drive starts and Misseldine peels off for his second, Pryor with the extra, 14-0.
Will Milnes carries hard from the kick off and is pulled down on The Phoenix 22. The Pythons win a scrum and begin the phases once again. Milnes and Adam Button force the ball forwards. MacKay spots Sharp on the blind side who delivers a perfectly weighted pass to Harry Jackson. He rounds the defence to run in from 20m, 19-0. Phoenix begin their own phase play from the kick off. Hard tackling from Jack McGowan, Milnes and George Booth hold them at bay. Button turns the ball over and some impressive passing begins, Jordan Payne to Booth to Sharp to Fotherby to Rhys Cory who rounds the defence carrying the ball ‘Sony Bill-Williams esq’ in one hand to score in the corner, Pryor from the touchline, 26-0 on 25mins.
McGowan carries hard from the re start. Phoenix win a penalty at the breakdown, secure their own line out ball and begin to put pressure on the home side. Once again tackling from Hugh Tatlow and Sam Rowntree halts progress. Pythons win a penalty and Sharp finds touch. Secure line out ball and Sharp carries the ball into the Phoenix half. He has Dylan Wepener supporting on his shoulder, a deft pass and Wepener scores the first of his four, 31-0.
Phoenix are on the back foot straight from the kick off. Payne carries to their 22 and feeds Milnes who races in next to the posts, Pryor adds 2, 38-0. Phoenix respond and score just before half time, 38-7.
Not long after the break The Pythons dominance of the game is apparent as Cory bounces off a would be tackler and feeds supporting Wepener for his second, Pryor adds the 2, 45-7. Pressure at the breakdown forces Phoenix to spill the ball. Pryor reacts quickly and side foots the ball towards the posts. He re gathers and pops the ball to Jackson who lobs the ball to Tatlow 10m out – no stopping him, Pryor in off the upright, 52-7. Straight from the kick off Payne sets Misseldine off. He feeds Tatlow, carries for 30m and puts Sam Rowntree into the corner, 57-7. Straight back again, slick interplay between Tatlow and Wepener sees Wepener cross the line under the posts for his hat trick, Pryor adds the 2, 64-7.
Fotherby charges through the middle, passes to Wepener, becoming more influential as the game progresses, who times his pass perfectly to put Spence into the corner, 69-7. Rowntree immediately turns the ball over from the re start, kicks through for Misseldine to bag his hat trick, Pryor seldom misses, 76-7.
Some powerful play from Button takes the ball close to the Phoenix line and sets the ball perfectly. Wepener, now playing 9, spots a gap and dances over for his 4th. Pryor through the middle, 83-7. All credit To Phoenix, they never gave up showing determination to cross the line which they did, 83-14 full time.
After the game DoR Tom Baxter said, “ Whilst there were plenty of positives to take away, and a reminder of what we can do when we get things right, we know we have to use this performance to keep on building and improving. The second half allowed us to look at different combinations of players which will be key in the coming weeks to ensure we have versatility in the squad. We have 3 games before we go into the rest week. It’s really important we focus on these games one week at a time make sure we are in a strong position going into the break.”
The Whittaker’s Distillery Man of The Match was awarded by Tom Baxter to a deserving Harry Jackson.
This victory puts The Pythons into third place behind Goole and Otliensians. The Pythons host 10th placed Wensleydale this coming Saturday – always a tough game. Kick off 2pm.
