Doncaster Phoenix narrowly beaten by Scunthorpe in Papa Johns Community Shield opener
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Injury-hit Phoenix lost their final eight games of the season in the Regional 1 North East, finishing ninth overall despite topping the table in September.
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Hide AdScunthorpe, who finished one place below them, started brightly having been buoyed by beating the drop and opened the scoring with a converted try after 15 minutes.
But Phoenix didn’t let their heads drop and cut the deficit when flanker Harry Williams touched down on the half-hour mark.
Fly-half Tom O’Brien was unable to convert but did add a penalty just before half-time to give his side a narrow 8-7 lead at the break.
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Hide AdThe visitors were quick to respond after the interval and went ahead through a penalty of their own before another converted try opened up a 17-8 lead with 55 minutes played.
Phoenix came back again with a try in the corner from O’Brien five minutes later, which he was unable to convert from a tight angle.
Scunthorpe secured revenge for the two defeats inflicted by Phoenix during the regular season when they scored another penalty with 10 minutes to go to make it 20-13.
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Hide AdPhoenix play Oundle in their next Pool 1 match next weekend.
There was better news for Phoenix’s second team, who secured top spot in the South Merit league with a 100 per cent win record after beating Sheffield 3rds 20-19.