The Banbury senior section started their 2009/2010 campaign with an emphatic win over local rivals Bicester in their first hit out of the season by a massive 62 points to 13.

With a mixture of first, second, third team and colts players Banbury showed they were a class above their opponents by scoring 10 tries to 2 in an open game of rugby in warm conditions.

Playing four 20 minute quarters the first 10 minutes saw the sides evenly matched as they both tried to settle into a rhythm and it was Bicester that scored the first points by way of a penalty goal 30 metres out from in front of the posts.

However from then on in it was mostly one way traffic as Banbury dominated the set pieces and were by far the superior side around the park, proving that a tough fitness regime in the summer was paying off.

Tries came at regular intervals for Banbury with left wing Jed Boyle being very prominent as his pace and nifty footwork often left the opposition in a state of confusion, while the strong running exploits of the forwards laid a perfect platform for the backs to run off.

Banbury did concede two tries in the game both against the run of play but always maintained a comfortable lead and finished the stronger of the two sides.

Simon Brand capped off a good day for the back row by scoring a hatrick of tries including one 55 metre run which saw several would be tacklers brushed aside, Boyle scored two as did Andrew Lace with others going to Guy Sturla, Peter Flemming and Adam Walsh.

Banbury coach Grant Holmes was very pleased with his sides first up effort stating that his team has set themselves a high bench mark which they must now continue to build on.

“The senior members of the side lead by example but it was the performance of some of the younger players that impressed me the most.”

“Ian Isham played his first club game at prop and did a fantastic job while young colt Paul Saville came off the bench and slotted into the team with ease and performed exceptionally well.”

“We still have a lot of work to do before we will be ready for our first league game but we can take a lot of heart out of Saturday’s performance and build from there.”

“This Saturday we will have to take another step up as we entertain my old club Effingham and Leatherhead from Surrey in a game which I have been looking forward to for some time. The colts will be in action as well as we look to move forward from the good work that everyone had been doing in the summer.”