Bulls look to regroup on the road after tough outing at Lutterworth
Banbury RUFC head to the Midlands powerhouse Stourbridge RFC this weekend as they look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat and rediscover their early-season form. The Bulls will travel to Stourton Park on Saturday, 18th October, determined to respond after last weekend’s 42–18 loss at Lutterworth, a result that left the side eager to make amends.

Regrouping After a Difficult Afternoon
It was a frustrating afternoon for Banbury at Ashby Lane in Round 5, where a confident Lutterworth side capitalised on home advantage to hand the Bulls a heavy defeat. Despite flashes of the attacking flair that produced impressive wins earlier in the season, Banbury were left to rue defensive lapses and missed chances.

Head Coach Soane Tongaʻuiha was clear about the focus this week:
“We’ve taken a long look at last week’s performance, and we know it wasn’t up to our standards. But this group has real character. The boys have worked hard in training to put things right, and the focus now is on responding in the right way. Stourbridge away is a big test, and we’ll need to front up physically and mentally.”

The Challenge: Stourbridge RFC
Banbury knows that Stourbridge represent one of the toughest assignments in the league. With a proud history and a strong home record at Stourton Park, Stourbridge have long been a force in Midlands rugby, combining size and power up front with precision and pace behind the scrum.

Director of Rugby Matt Goode expects nothing less than a physical battle:
“Stourbridge are always tough, they’ve got experience right across the park and know how to control the tempo of a game. For us, it’s about matching their intensity and keeping our composure. We’ve got the talent and the systems to cause problems, but we have to execute under pressure.”

Lessons Learned and a Point to Prove
After an encouraging start to the season, with wins over Newent (50–15) and Dudley Kingswinford (27–14), Banbury’s form has dipped in recent weeks. However, Tongaʻuiha and Goode are confident that the squad’s work ethic and togetherness will shine through as they aim to get back on track.

Banbury’s set-piece remains a source of strength, and the coaching team will be looking for greater accuracy and patience in attack. Discipline will also be key, with Stourbridge known for punishing mistakes and turning pressure into points.

Tongaʻuiha added:
“We’re still building as a team. It’s a long season, and we know where we want to get to. The message this week is simple: control what we can, stick to our processes, and trust in each other. If we do that, we’ll be right in the contest.”

A Chance to Reignite the Season
The Bulls’ supporters can expect a determined performance as Banbury look to rediscover the spark that saw them playing with confidence and ambition earlier in the campaign. With leadership from the senior players and renewed focus across the squad, the trip to Stourbridge offers the perfect platform for a statement performance.

Banbury will be hungry to prove a point as they take on one of the league’s most established sides — and a positive display on the road could reignite their campaign heading into the next home fixture.