Bodicote Park – Saturday 4th February 2017

Match report by Chris 'Cakes' Phillips, action photos by Simon Grieve

Banbury started brightly as Ed Phillips kicked 2 penalties early in the half. This was followed up by Freddie Cracknell’s first. Chinnor looked to make yards with a set play around half way. Cracknell read the move and intercepted to run in untouched under the post and perform a cheeky swallow dive (pictured). Phillips easily converted as Banbury took an early 13-0 lead.

Cracknell completed his brace shortly after. An up and under was sent deep into Chinnor territory, unfortunately the Chinnor number 8 got turned around in the bright sunshine and couldn’t gather the ball. Cracknell leaped to take the ball as the erratic bounce evaded the scrambling cover defence.

Phillips converting from about the same spot he missed an earlier penalty taking the score to 20-0 and the Bulls were comfortably in control. Chinnor hit back with a try of their own, unconverted, ending the first half 20-5.

Despite the second half being more disjointed and less fluent than the first, Banbury managed to keep the pressure on at key moments and score 3 more tries, all unconverted.

A penalty kicked to the Twyford corner lead to a successful catch from the line out and a driving maul over the try line. However, the Banbury pack’s delight was short lived as they discovered that it was fly-half Jack Briggs at the back who dotted down!

Exploiting some confusion around a ruck 5m from Chinnor’s line, Bulls scrum-half Phillips stripped the ball from his opposite number and had enough strength to wrestle himself over the line, taking 2 or 3 scrambling defenders with him.

Following a period of sustained pressure, Banbury Captain Ian Isham completed the 35-5 win by crashing over after peeling off from another ruck within 5m.

Banbury now await the result of the other semi final to find out if they will face Bicester or Oxford University Greyhounds in the cup final at historic Iffley Road.