The Bulls came out to overcast, but dry conditions at the Graf UK Stadium off the back of a close and frustrating defeat to Stoke away last time out. With an increasing injury list the last few games of the campaign will be a tough task ahead. With a young Bulls side out, performance was very much on the agenda.In an unsettled start to the match it was Harlequins who struck first through their backs finding space to touch down. Try was converted [0-7]. Considering the youth on show the Bulls were giving a great account of themselves. Unfortunately mistakes were their undoing and this came with Harlequins’ second try of the afternoon. From a loose ball the Harlequins’ backs regather and touch down in the corner. The try was converted [0-14]. The next ten minutes saw the Bulls put Harlequins under a great deal of pressure, enjoying spells of territory gain and pinning them in their twenty two. At the end of this fantastic period of play, Harlequins managed to string together a series of offloads resulting in a try for the visitors. The conversion was missed [0-19]. Unfortunately in the build up tot the visitors try, Owen WIldgoose sustained a blood injury which would see him leave the field. At the close of the half the Bulls had performed well restricting the visitors to the bare minimum. With the ball Banbury were looking dangerous but mistakes and a lack of accuracy, possibly due to inexperience, was their downfall. That said, the cohesion of the team with all the injuries in mind was performing incredibly well and showing a great deal of heart. The second half was there to be fought for.

Half Time - Banbury 0-19 Oxford Harlequins

The half started with more Harlequins ill discipline. A late hit on Ed Phillips saw the visitors down to fourteen for the next ten minutes. Unfortunately moments after another Bulls error led to a Harlequins try. The Bulls initially turned the ball over, but Harlequins regained possession finding a gap to touch down. The try was converted [0-26]. The next fifteen minutes saw the Bulls restrict Harlequins and severely limit their options. It was however after a kick for territory from the Bulls that saw Harlequins run the ball through their backs and score to the side of the posts, frustratingly a lot of opportunities were unluckily being presented to the visitors. The try was converted [0-33]. Moments later things went from bad to worse with an unlucky and untimely knock on presenting the Harlequins centre with an easy score, the try was converted [0-40]. Fortunes turned in the final fifteen. A moment of brilliance from Quinten Blythe saw him receive a fantastic ball from Sam Cox, after the Bulls has quickly acted on the Harlequins’ knock on. With the ball pushed out wide Blythe beautifully dives for the line with pinpoint placement in the air. An incredible score from the fullback who had been lively all afternoon, the try was converted [7-40]. The final ten minutes saw Harlequins add two further scores to their total. The first game from something of nothing. Against the run of play a kick through was met with an incredibly favourable bounce for the Harlequins player to regather and touch down for the visitors. The try was converted [7-47]. The second saw a pass thrown wide with a simple touch down. The try was converted [7-54] On the final whistle Harlequins came away with the win. It was a tough afternoon for the Bulls, but a performance full of fight, desire and heart. Mistakes aside, the Bulls were more than a match for the visitors. With more experience gained this team can only get stronger, Next week the Bulls travel to Derby in Regional 1 Midlands.

Full Time - Banbury 7-54 Oxford Harlequins

Player of the Match - Presented by SE Solicitors

Matt Dandy for being battle hardened and everywhere all game on a tough afternoon. A superb performance

Banbury
Starting XV
15 Quinten Blythe; 14 Owen Wildgoose; 13 Daniel Hale; 12 Daniel Tooth; 11 Charlie Cranley; 10 Oscar Triggs; 9 Sam Cox;
1 James Roberts; 2 Ethan Gudge; 3 James Leonardi; 4 Louis Tooth; 5 Riven Smith; 6 George Ding; 7 William McCubbin; 8 Matthew Dandy;

Replacements
16 Alexander Nicholls; 17 Edward Phillips; 18 Matthew Goode

Oxford Harlequins
Starting XV
15 Jonathan Hughes; 14 Jack Robinson; 13 Toby Haines; 12 Adam Field; 11 Edward Yeates; 10 Ewan Fox; 9 Harry Burn;
1 Callum Cashman; 2 Joshua Archer; 3 Michael Wright; 4 Allan Purchase; 5 Ben Bodinham; 6 John Ireland; 7 Finlay Boarder; 8 Willo Bicknell;

Replacements
16 Joel Hopkins; 17 Ross Toward; 18 Joseph Pigott