Phoenix RFC - News

Dinner and Dance Tickets now available - £37.50
When: Friday 6th June
Where: Grovefield House Hotel 7pm for 7:30
Dress Code: Black Tie
3 course dinner & half bottle of wine per person
Awards and DJ / Disco to follow
Terry Furlonger is selling tickets now - let him or Mike Hudson know asap to avoid disappointment.
furlongt@toysrus.com or mikewhudson@yahoo.co.uk

Summary Season 2007/8

Phoenix had a little to celebrate after their opening league match of the season losing away to Farnham Common with a last minute try that gave the home side victory. Things worsened with losses to Oxford and then Stowe-on-the-Wold before Phoenix got things together with their first victory of the season with a win over Wheatley. Joys were short lived however and Broadmoor Staff and Drifters both recorded victories over the Taplow side. Gosford All Blacks relieved the pressure for Phoenix when they defeated them away in November and continued their run with wins against Abbingdon and Swindon College. Then the top two sides in the league in successive weeks put Phoenix on the back foot again when they went down to Bicester and Chipping Norton, encounters that were to be repeated in the last two games of the season. A narrow win over Swindon College just before the Christmas break raised moral in the Taplow camp. Games after Christmas went 50-50 for Phoenix and they ended the league exactly mid table. In between Phoenix had put up some good performances, playing all their representative matches and winning through to the Buckinghamshire Shied Final that included a victory over Southern Counties North League side Slough and a very creditable performance against Buckingham in the final of the Buckinghamshire County Shield Competition. Phoenix were the reigning runners up in this competition having come up against a strong Milton Keynes side last year and they opened their defence when they entertained Drifters at Taplow. The match was a close fought affair with Drifters making most of the running but Phoenix showed great character and defended strongly and managed to level the scores at 19 points each at full-time. Phoenix gained victory with a couple of penalties in extra time. Things got harder for the Taplow Club when they came up against Slough in the semi-finals and recorded a surprisingly emphatic win over their local rivals by 29 points to 12. So it was on to north Bucks for the second season running and their place as runners up in this competition guaranteed when Phoenix traveled to Buckingham, another Club in the Southern Counties North League. Phoenix were by no means overawed with the prospect of meeting Buckingham and put in a superb performance under the captaincy of Ian Watkinson. Buckingham took the lead with a couple of penalties in the first half but the Phoenix pack was driving well and although Buckingham appeared to have a more constructive set of backs, it was Phoenix who were to score the only try of the match when Matt Hood followed up a chip through by Phoenix’ rapidly rising star scrum half Weeraphon Tongchumsaeng. But Buckingham slotted a further two more penalties in the second half and took the Shield by 12 points to 5 and the game ended with Phoenix camped on the Buckingham 22 seeking to level the scores.

There is no doubt that a consistent Phoenix side throughout the season could have finished in the top four sides in the league but injuries and emigration lost the club some valuable players at crucial times. Playing resources at Phoenix have been stretched but their second, third XVs and notably their Youth Section have provided replacements and in addition, Phoenix have been blessed with an influx of new talent through their vibrant Youth Section which under the Chairmanship of Steve Turner provides rugby coaching for all age groups including mini and youth age groups. This bodes well for the future of Phoenix. In contrast to the opening few matches of the season, Phoenix can depart for a well earned rest during the summer with a smile, having recovered to finish securely mid table in the league, although with a little luck could have finished in the top 4. Again Phoenix finished as runners up in the County Shield Competition. Tribute for this is due to Club Captain Mike Hudson who has managed the playing side of the club for the past two years and Ian Watkinson who has led the Phoenix first XV on the field.

Off the field Phoenix have obtained the Rugby Football Union Seal of Approval for their structure as a well managed Club in accordance with “good practice” and on January 6th this year Phoenix laid the foundations of a new Clubhouse which will provide improved facilities for its members. The realization of these new facilities is due in the main to the efforts of Phoenix members John Lockhart, Kevin Holland, Terry Furlonger and Howerd Neal. Builder of the original Phoenix Clubhouse, built over 25 years ago, and ex-Club Captain Ronnie Jones is please to see the new facilities being created.

Club President Steve Rafferty says that the need for larger modern premises is a direct result of the success of the Phoenix RFC during recent years and particularly of the success of the Youth Section who this season have provided several new players to the senior sides where some have become regular first XV players in particular Weeraphon Tongchumsaeng (scrum half) and Matthew Symmonds (second row). The good news for Phoenix is that there are several more Youth Section players with the ability to contribute in the senior sides.

Phoenix RFC is raising finance for this expansion through their “Buy-a-Brick” campaign.

• Bronze Brick – any donation from £20 to £49
• Silver Brick – from £50 to £99
• Gold Brick – from £100 +
• Platinum Brick - Level TBA (but at east 5 Gold Bricks) and includes special attendance at the official opening in September 2008.

Anyone wishing to buy a brick on the Phoenix RFC Supporters Wall, gains a place, for eternity on the Phoenix Supporters Wall Cheques should be made payable to Phoenix RFC and addressed to Steve Rafferty, 86 Chalklands, Bourne End, Bucks, Sl8 5TJ. Please provide your full name, as you would like it to be displayed on the “Phoenix Supporters Wall”. Proceeds will be passed on. So far this initiative has raised over £10000 and Fund Raising Manager Duncan Wardle is confident of reaching £15000 and more. Phoenix Club President Steve Rafferty is personally very grateful to all those who have contributed so far with donations. Donations are welcome from the local press!

Contributions have been received from members as far a field as Singapore, New Zealand and Australia which Steve says is a tribute to the James Dixon who manages the Phoenix RFC website that enables members to maintain contact with PHOENIX RFC. Completion of the facilities is due at the end of May and an official opening is planned for September 2008. Phoenix RFC is most definitely moving forward.

Bucks County Shield Final

Phoenix get to the final of the Buckinghamshire County Shield beating local rivals Drifters and Slough along the way. Phoenix came close to winning but just fell short losing 12 - 5 away at Southern Counties North side Buckingham who are challenging for promotion in the league above. Matt Hood scored the only try of the game.
It was a great day out for the club and a beer or two was had on the way back to Taplow, thanks goes to the bus driver who was superb and all our supporters who came along to cheer the boys on.

Buy your very own brick in the new clubhouse - Phoenix RFC Look to the future with Major extensions to Facilities at Institute Road , for more information: Click here

Phoenix RFC achieve the Rugby Football Union and Sport England's Clubmark Seal of Approval Award. For more information click here: www.waspsnewspage.co.uk

Website/Communications Manager: James Dixon - phoenixrfc@hotmail.co.uk