Banbury Rugby Club’s Charity Matchday on Saturday has raised £6,500 to be shared among the Banbury Young Homelessness Project, the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Wooden Spoon Rugby Charity.

Inspired by Club Sponsors Jamie Briggs Removals & Storage, together with Main Club Sponsors Tibbetts Group Limited, the first-of-its-kind day saw the Banbury Bulls wearing a unique design playing shirt that featured all the charities logos. The Bulls rose to the occasion in great style to put in their best performance of the season so far, beating Stratford-upon-Avon 35-5 in the DCS Stadium at Bodicote Park.

As well as joining in with a bidding frenzy at the after-match auction of some very dirty playing shirts, guests also dug deep in the pre-match raffle of prizes donated by Club Sponsors including MirrorSphere, DCS Group, John Nicholls, Wykham Park Farm Shop, Tom Varney, Hook Norton Brewery, Ian Bruce, Fraser Reid, The Supper Circle, Phil Montanaro and Northampton Saints.”

Club Chairman John Colegrave said: “This was a new initiative from our Club sponsors, and I am delighted that it has been such a success. After many years of fundraising for our own Club needs it is fantastic to be able to do something for the local community. Club members and sponsors, who all pitched in so generously on Saturday, should be proud of their efforts on behalf of three very worthy causes.”

Lead organiser Julie Briggs added; “We are delighted and amazed at the generosity of our club sponsors and all those who attended and gave so generously on our inaugural charity day. It was good to have representatives from the three charities in attendance and I am sure that they will put the monies raised to good use. Jamie Briggs Removals and Storage Ltd. look forward to continuing to support BYHP, MND and Wooden Spoon in future events.”