Paviors 40       Doncaster Phoenix 29

Last weekend Pavs completed their pre-season preparations with an emphatic home win against semi local rivals Doncaster Phoenix. Now under the stewardship of former Nottingham and Doncaster back rower, Phil Eggleshaw and stalwart Jonty Green, Pavs continue to push forward, welcoming back the likes of Ben Allen, Harry Kerr and Cam Seaton and Will Taylor, as well as maintaining the integration of several talented academy youngsters into a young and skilful squad.

Both sides opened up in zestful fashion with open running on a fabulous surface prepared by Howard Marshall and his team. On fourteen minutes skipper Josh Alton-Smith on his debut in the role, finished off a fine driving maul by the forwards to give Pavs the lead at 7-0 with the George Billam conversion. Doncaster struck back on twenty minutes before Richard Hatton found a gap in midfield to touch down and with the Billam extras extend Pavs lead to 14-5. A further Doncaster try narrowed the score to 14-10 at the break.

On forty-five minutes fly half, George Billam ghosted into to score before adding the extras himself to extend Pavs lead to 21-10. Doncaster again struck back to bring the score to 21-17 on forty-eight minutes. Moments later another driving maul and score extended Pavs lead to 28-17 before highly rated lock Ben Allen drove over to give Pavs a seemingly emphatic lead of 35-17 with the Billam extras. More was to follow moments later when youngster Will Burrows touched down and to give Pavs a deserved 40-17 lead with five minutes left. Doncaster to their credit fought back with two well worked to narrow the score to 40-29 at the final whistle.

All in all. A successful afternoon for Pavs. Messrs Eggleshaw and Green are developing the side in to a young, fit, and organised unit and it was wonderful to see all the hard work in training begin to have its success on the pitch. There were several excellent performances, and it would seem churlish not to mention the amount of hard work and energy put in by the entire squad. Having said this one could select Ben Allen, Will Burrows, Harry Kerr and Danny Green for their skill and energy. Pavs now look forward to the first league game of the season against newcomers to Midlands Regional Mellish RFC at Burntstump on Saturday 2^nd September 3.00 KO.

Squad – Steve Allen, Owen Taylor, Theo Collier, Alistair Plant, Ben Allen, Josh Alton-Smith (C ), Josh Flanagan, Will Burrows, Phil Eggleshaw (40 mins) , Tom Ryan (65 mins), Spud (65 mins), Harry Pritchard (65mins), Dan Flint, George Billam, Richard Hatton, Harry Kerr, Danny Green, Alex Rimmington, Matt Molyneux, Luke Snowden ( 50 mins)

Forward  iof The Match- Ben Allen

Back of The Match – Danny Green

“Mentioned in Despatches” – Cannot say any more – The Whole Squad !!!!!!  

Nigel Youl 1^st XV Manager