Bodicote Park - Saturday 28th September 2013

Match reporting by Bob Mitchelmore & photos by Simon Grieve.

LIVE local radio commentary and interviews by Radio Horton Sport!!

Fielding a much changed side from last week's league victory a youthful Banbury side bowed out of the RFU Cup Competition at the first fence.

The sides were evenly matched for much of the game but the greater strength and experience of the Dunstablians side told in the final quarter with two late tries to make the game safe.

Playing with the wind Dunstablians started brightly and showing superior strength up front were first on the score board with a try from a catch and drive from a line out close to the Banbury line, which was duly converted.

The Bulls responded well with stand in skipper Nick Pratt leading the way with some powerful runs and following a quickly taken penalty in the Dunstablians 22 prop forward Garry Byott forced his way over under the posts leaving Alex Fogavini an easy conversion to level the scores.

With the game approaching half time the Bulls took the lead with a Fogavini penalty, but with the final move of the half Dunstablians replied with a converted try after the Banbury defence gifted them possession with a poor clearance from a kick ahead.

Trailing by just four points at the break and with the wind now in their favour the Bulls were well in the game, and the gap was narrowed to a single point with a Fogavini penalty which followed a fine break from fullback Carl Daniels who was only denied a try by a last gasp tackle from the Dunstablians cover defence.

Dunstablians responded with some powerful running from their big forwards punching holes in the Banbury defence to establish a foothold in the Banbury 22, and from a scrum good handling from the backs created a try in the corner to extend their lead.

With the game going into the final quarter Banbury again narrowed the gap with a third Fogavini penalty, but hopes of victory were eventually extinguished when a cruel bounce from a Dunstablians cross kick eluded the Banbury defence allowing the Dunstablians winger to gather and send his supporting player in for a simple try.

Dunstablians superiority was confirmed as they took advantage of a tiring Banbury defence to score a further converted try to leave themselves comfortable and worthy winners.

Whilst the Bulls will have been disappointed to lose their under-strength team put up a gutsy performance against a well drilled side who held a clear advantage in weight and experience in their forwards who were able to give the backs ball going forward, whilst the Banbury backline often received the ball on the back foot, but nevertheless still managed to look dangerous on occasions.

The Dunstablians players, staff and supporters were a credit to their Club and we'll probably talk about the after-match tea pots for quite some time......!
.