It was a bright start inside the first 10 minutes Oscar Triggs slotted three points for the Bulls after a Kenilworth high tackle. This was the much-needed momentum the Bulls needed as 5 minutes later Will McCubbin perfectly crafted a kick return try by bursting through a couple of tackles before going over just to the right-hand side of the posts, try converted [10-0]. The pendulum swung the other way as the tempo of the match switched with Kenilworth finding pace on the outside with a crossfield kick where their winger touched down in the right-hand corner, conversion missed [10-5]. The match started to settle and in the next 10 minutes, Banbury grew further into the contest finding quick recycled ball and using the kicking game to their advantage in gaining territory. The Bulls with the ascendancy found a quick ball from the base of the ruck and with a perfectly measured short cross kick of their own, James Miller found Charlie Cranley on in the middle of the park in acres of space, having time to let it bounce and then dot down under the posts, try converted [17-5]. Before the break, the Bulls stuck twice in quick succession. First, on debut from Felix Hunt, he intelligently found a line down the blindside to a score in the corner, with the conversion missed [22-5], and secondly, Quinten Blythe, who was on the end of an incredible offload dotted down in the clubhouse corner, in what must be up there fo try of the season, conversion missed [27-5].

Half Time - Banbury 27-5 Kenilworth

After the break, the Bulls struck early. With fantastic hands from the backs, the ball reaches McCubbin who goes over for his second of the afternoon, conversion is missed [32-5]. Unfortunately, after the try was scored, both Ed Berridge and James Hibbert both forced off with ankle injuries. In the fast-paced match, this was the scoring did not stop there. From an excellent run down the right wing from Blythe, Dan Hale receives a perfectly timed pass on the inside that was nearly intercepted but reaches Hale to continue and dot down under the posts, try converted [39-5]. The final 20 minutes proved an enduring shift in defence with Kenilworth coming back by injecting some tempo into their game. This gear shift from the visitors presented them with a try near the posts, try converted [39-12]. With nothing to lose the visitors threw everything into the final 10 minutes, with a quick recycled ball Kenilworth found space to go over for their final try of the afternoon. The final 5 minutes saw the Bulls produce a fantastic defensive effort but sadly with a mistimed high tackle James Miller sat out the rest of the match. Upon the final whistle, the Bulls finish 2023 with a bonus point at home. In a great performance from the boys, Kenilworth showed fantastic courage in their fight back in the second half, and are unlucky to leave with. nothing. The Bulls finish 5th as we enter what is set to be an exciting second half of the season.

Full Time - Banbury 39 -17 Kenilworth

Player of the Match - Presented by TGL
Will McCubbin for his two tries and a great shift in defence.
Thank you to TGL who presented the award and for their continued support this season.

Banbury
Starting XV
15 Quinten Blythe; 14 William McCubbin; 13 Daniel Hale; 12 James Miller; 11 Charlie Cranley; 10 Oscar Triggs; 9 Sam Cox
1 James Leonardi; 2 Ethan Gudge; 3 Callum Horne; 4 William Thurlow; 5 Louis Tooth; 6 Felix Hunt; 7 James Hibbert; 8 Edward Berridge
Replacements
16 Sean Woollard; 17 Hunter Jackson; 18 Joseph Mills

Kenilworth
Starting XV
15 Jonathan Lowdon; 14 Max Robinson; 13 William Morgan; 12 Edward Hannam; 11 Lee Lightowler; 10 Mark O'Connor; 9 Alexander Caviezel Cox
1 Kieran Payne; 2 Charles Morris; 3 Philip Boulton; 4 Lewis Kavanagh; 5 Thomas Davenport; 6 Finlay Gibson; 7 Patricio Grace; 8 Charlie Hudson
Replacements
16 Charles West; 17 Ted Bromwich; 18 Angelo Howarth