The Bulls arrived at a dry but breezy Stourton Park off the back of a defeat to Derby last time out. It was a tough task ahead with injuries and unavailabilities impacting the Bulls squad across the board. It was a good first ten minutes for the Bulls playing up in the Stourbridge half but nothing was coming, all ending in a driving maul being held up over the line. From stopping the try Stourbridge pushed on and found possession in midfield, using the backs well they found space and scored the first try of the afternoon. Try was converted [7-0]. Much of the same a few minutes later, Stourbridge found themselves in a great phase of play pushing the ball to their backs all culminating in the second score of the afternoon in the corner. The conversion was missed [12-0]. Things went from bad to worse moments later when Stourbridge found a third in quick succession. Using the quick pace of their 4G surface they used the backs to the full and spread the ball out wide for the West Midlands side to touch down off an excellent offload to finish. The conversion was successful [19-0]. The Bulls then took centre stage with Academy product Riven Smith taking the ball off the back, beating two or three in defence and expertly touching down on a one-armed reach, superb try to get the Bulls off the mark and one to remember for Smith. The conversion was missed [19-5]. Almost straight after the Bulls scored, injuries struck with James Hibbert and Alex Wilton both having to leave the field of play. Hibbert in what looked like a facial injury and Wilton a muscular one. Moments later Stourbridge struck again with twenty minutes to go until the break. With a quick tap and go from five metres out the opposition touch down. Questions on where the quick tap was taken from but the referee adjudged it to be fine. The conversion was missed [24-5]. Play was fairly passive for the next fifteen minutes until Stourbridge found a moment of brilliance. With a great move from the backs, the ball was shifted out wide and speed just beat the Bulls defence for a Stourbridge score. The conversion was successful [31-5]. In the final stages of the half, the Bulls were caught by another quick tap that saw Stourbridge extend their lead going down the wing with the backs enjoying the pace they set early on in their backline. The conversion was successful [38-5]. At the close of the half was plenty of effort from the Bulls, but Stourbridge were in control of the game at the interval. Unfortunately, at the break, it looked like a broken cheekbone for Hibbert and a bad hamstring injury for Wilton. Wishing them both a swift recovery.

Half Time - Stourbridge 38-5 Banbury

At the start of the half Stourbridge picked up where they left off. Throughout the ball being turned over the Stourbridge backs spread the ball out wide with quick successive hands and scored in the corner. The conversion was successful [45-5]. Not long after scoring the first yellow card of the match went to Stourbridge, too many offsides defending within their twenty-two. The following twenty minutes saw two quick scores for Stourbridge. The first score was by another slung pass to the wing where Bulls defenders were beaten in the corner, try was converted [52-5]. The second was a breakdown in the Bulls defence with a mix of missed tackles and Stourbridge being clinical saw them cross the white line again, the try was converted [59-5]. Entering the final ten minutes the second yellow of the match saw a Stourbridge player go to the bin for another high tackle in the clash. At the same time, Joe Mills left the field with Alex Nicholls replacing him. The next score went to the Bulls with a brilliantly read interception from Dan Hale, with a loose pass gathered Hale cruised over the line to score, and the conversion was successful [59-12]. The last try of the afternoon went to Stourbridge, with well-read passes by the backs they finished off a performance up there with the best lines seen this season. The conversion was successful [66-12]. On the final whistle, Stourbridge came away with the win. Congratulations to Stourbridge with an impressive win, with some fantastic rugby on show. Cannot argue with the effort and application from the Bulls with so many players missing, it was never going to be an easy afternoon. Next week the Bulls travel to Stoke in a 7th vs 8th clash in Regional 1 Midlands.

Full Time - Stourbridge 66-12 Banbury

Stourbridge
Starting XV
15 Matthew Moseley; 14 Callum Clark; 13 Jack Teague; 12 Mark Ashley Beck; 11 Samuel Vaughan; 10 Michael Penn; 9 Michael Heaney
1 Oghenetejiri Ajuchi; 2 Ethan Shewring; 3 Mark George; 4 Luke Connolly; 5 Lewis Burley; 6 Max Truby; 7 Hayden Link; 8 James Rodley;

Replacements
16 Adam Sturdy; 17 William Webb; 18 Leo Gilliland

Banbury
Starting XV
15 Joseph Mills; 14 Alex Wilton; 13 Daniel Hale; 12 Loic Radegonde; 11 Charlie Cranley; 10 Oscar Triggs; 9 Sam Cox
1 James Leonardi; 2 Ethan Gudge; 3 Matthew Rabiasz; 4 James Hibbert; 5 Louis Tooth; 6 George Ding; 7 Joshua Mcfarland; 8 Riven Smith;

Replacements
16 Richard Phillips; 17 Alexander Nicholls; 18 Quinten Blythe