The Recreation Ground, Olney – Saturday 2nd January 2016

Match reporting and action photos by Simon Grieve

For the second time in as many outings the Bulls were forced to play on a sodden pitch and fading light. However, unlike at Pinley, this week Banbury really clicked and simply outclassed Olney in all departments.

The match started in light drizzle and on a just-playable surface. The Bulls kicked off and immediately put Olney under pressure. Matt Goode, unusually starting at fly-half, used his vision to attack to the right with Josh Deegan chipping the last defender to run through. Impeded as he did so, Deegan missed the grounding but was awarded a penalty try for his ingenuity. Skipper Eddie Phillips kicked the straightforward conversion to give the Bulls an early 0-7 lead.

Just seconds later full-back Joe Mills ran the ball back at the Olney defence. Side stepping several defenders, and slipping through the grasp of others, Mills off-loaded to Ian Isham leaving only the Olney scrum-half to beat. Isham used his considerable power to flatten the nine and dive through for an excellent try just left of the posts (pictured above). Another simple kick for Phillips, duly converted, and it was already 0-14.

Olney appeared punch-drunk after the early Banbury onslaught and the now increasing precipitation simply added to their woes. The Bulls sensed an opportunity to finish the contest and pressed relentlessly. Turning over an Olney scrum on the hosts own 5 metre line the ball popped out only for Phillips to react the quickest and dot down. The conversion was just wide but the Bulls now had a 0-19 lead.

Any hope of an Olney fight-back was all but extinguished as the Bulls executed a text-book line-out move. A deadly accurate throw by hooker Seamus O’Dwyer hit target man Sam Mills in the air. Quickly played off the top, Phillips then fed Goode at pace and he slid over for the fourth Banbury try. Phillips added the extras to make it 0-26 at the half-time whistle.

Almost immediately from the restart the Bulls continued to dominate. Making several yards in space, Goode delivered a cheeky off-load from the back of his hand that found Joe Mills in support. Nothing could catch the full-back at full pace and another Banbury try resulted. Phillips’ great day with the boot continued and it was 0-33 to the visitors.

With the game effectively won, and thoughts turning to next week’s return to the league, Head Coach James Kerr made his replacements. Lock Matt Brock had picked up a leg injury and, together with Wes Hallam and Matt Goode, was replaced by James Page, Steve Nutt and Jed Boyle.

The conditions were now simply appalling with heavy falling rain and water starting to collect in puddles on the pitch. Despite this, the Bulls proceeded to play some of their most open and fluid rugby. With forwards and backs attacking in open play it was more reminiscent of the Dubai Sevens that an East Midlands mud-fest.

When the Bulls turned over an Olney ruck on the hosts 5 metre line it was that man Isham again who was quickest to react and pounce on a loose ball to score. The conversion was just short but the lead was extending, now standing at 0-38.

To Olney’s immense credit they then put the Bulls under 10 minutes of pressure, pinning Banbury back into their own half. However, it was too little too late and from another Banbury line-out 10 metres from the Olney line the ball was fed to a fast approaching Jimmy Manley who scored under the posts. Phillips duly converted for 0-45.

Banbury finished off the game with one more try, coming as Phillips darted from another 5 meter scrum, the Skipper converting his second try for a 52 point unanswered victory.

A superb result indeed but there will be no room for complacency in the Banbury camp as they move into the final eight of the RFU Intermediate Cup. Also the small matter of an away league fixture against Barkers Butts on Saturday 9th January beckons as the Bulls endeavour to retain their league-topping position.