Nokes triggers Pencoed into action

The top of the table match at Welfare Park did not disappoint, both sides displaying a passion and commitment worthy of the occasion and doing their utmost to achieve their league aspirations.
 
Phoenix opened the scoring when good support play from back row Caitlin Smith saw her breach the last line of defence to score, Rhian Nokes adding the extras.
 
The Sirens response was immediate, Phoenix failed to deal with the restart and the home side capitalized, flanker Sarah Harper scoring under the posts, Caitlin Protheroe converting to level matters.
 
Phoenix replacement Natalie O’Shea soon made her presence felt with a huge hit, a home player requiring treatment following a perfectly aggressive tackle. Phoenix then regained the lead, Smith breaking away on the blindside of a maul to feed O’Shea who burst away from some 40 metres to score.
 
Phoenix again forfeited ground at the restart, and centre Kourtney Lewis made them pay with a try wide out, Protheroe adding a fine conversion to give her side a 14-12 lead.
 
Back came Phoenix, the dancing feet of Leanne Burnell led a counter attack and close up driving play from the pack saw O’Shea emerge from the mass of bodies as the try scorer.
 
At this stage of the match the restarts were letting Phoenix down and the Sirens for the third time in the half capitalized, scrum half Jessica Kidley scoring wide out for Senghenydd to lead 19-17 at the interval.
 
The all round game of Phoenix was starting to surface in the third quarter and this was reflected with four unanswered tries during this purple patch. Nokes triggered things off, breaking away from her own 22 and the outside half raced away to score with a fine solo effort.
 
Within a minute her half back partner Sarah Payne added another. Phoenix were now playing with confidence and following combined play from both backs and forwards Nokes got her second try.
 
A brilliant run from Burnell put Phoenix back on the attack and despite a home clearance Phoenix were not to be denied, Nokes feeding young wing Megan Griffiths who raced over wide out, Nokes converted and Phoenix now effectively had the match won at 19-39.
 
The home side were not finished however, and a blindside move involving Kidley, and Harper saw Lewis get her second try.

For Senghenydd flanker Sarah Harper was chosen as best forward, with scrum half Jessica Kidley best back. For Phoenix Charlotte Mundy was picked out as best forward, with Nokes chosen as best back, all the aforementioned chosen by their respective opponents.