The Bulls came out to overcast and wet conditions at the Graf UK Stadium off the back of a frustrating defeat to Burton at home last time out. With our original meeting called off for weather and the subsequence rearrangement too it was third time lucky to face Derby for the first time this season. Derby struck first early in the match with the Bulls adjudged to be offside, the penalty was successfully converted [0-3]. Moments later Derby were the first to see a player head to the bin after a deliberate knock on the winger started his ten minutes on the side. In a series of events Derby appeared again and this time it was to touch down for the first try of the afternoon. From poor play from the Bulls, Derby made use of space to cut through the middle of the park to score under the posts, the conversion was converted [0-10]. Next, it was the Bulls to respond with an excellently worked try from the backs, who broke out of their own twenty-two down the left wing before releasing an expectant Joe Mills to touch down under the posts, the conversion was successful [7-10]. The Bulls controlled the following five minutes well with a series of well-worked phases until they were caught for not rolling and James Miller was sent for ten minutes in the bin, penalties were not doing a resilient Bulls performance any favours. The Bulls charged with fourteen men to score their second of the match through George Ding. An excellent kick to the corner from Oscar Triggs, gave the Bulls a well-placed lineout 5 metres out and from there, a perfectly driven maul presented the opportunity for Ding to touch down. The conversion was successful [12-17]. With barely any time from the kick-off, it was Derby to strike again through a Bulls mistake with the away side touching down in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful [12-22]. Before the half Derby found themselves in possession again and put boot to ball down the field with a chasing pack and just winning the race to the sitting ball to touch down, the conversion was successful [12-29]. The Bulls ended the half in frustration, the first score of the second half would be crucial to chase down the lead and look to try and win the contest.

Half Time - Banbury 12-29 Derby

It was a great start to the second half for the Bulls with a well-timed driving maul finding James Hibbert on the end of the drive to touch down in the clubhouse corner. The conversion was missed [17-29]. The Bulls grew into the second half with a solid twenty minutes of pressure but sadly nothing to come away from the effort. Pressure ended when the Bulls were penalised for not rolling away, which presented an opportunity for Derby to have a shot at goal. Penalty was successful [17-32]. The final quarter was mixed for the Bulls. First Derby went a man down again to the bin for kicking the ball out of the ruck and the Bulls went to the corner. Making the most of the man advantage a brilliantly worked scrum from the resultant lineout saw the forwards drive over the line to score. The try was converted [24-32]. In the final ten minutes, the Bulls lost James Leonardi to the bin for back chat, however Derby can count themselves very fortunate to escape a clear no-arms shoulder to the head tackle from the incident. On the final whistle, Derby came away with the win in a stinging loss for the Bulls, Derby were clinical in their finish and worthy winners on the day. Next week presents a great opportunity to correct errors over the past two weeks as the Bulls face Stourbridge on the road. Redemption also lies in wait in a couple weeks time for the reverse fixture up in Derby.

Full Time - Banbury 24-32 Derby

Player of the Match - Presented by Katcher

James Hibbert for a battle-hardened performance all game and copped a couple of high ones, but kept on fighting.

Banbury
Starting XV
15 Joseph Mills; 14 Alex Wilton; 13 Daniel Hale; 12 James Miller; 11 Charlie Cranley; 10 Oscar Triggs; 9 Sam Cox
1 James Leonardi ©; 2 Ethan Gudge; 3 Sean Woollard; 4 Louis Tooth; 5 William Thurlow; 6 George Ding; 7 James Hibbert; 8 William McCubbin;

Replacements
16 Callum Horne; 17 Riven Smith; 18 Quinten Blythe;

Derby
Starting XV
15 Ben Wilcox; 14 William Town; 13 Ethan Pearson; 12 Jacob Roome; 11 Lewis Hancock; 10 Joshua Bingham; 9 Joseph Acton
1 Jeremiah Oldfield; 2 Ryan Cokayne; 3 George Pollock; 4 Nathaniel Bevan-Brown; 5 Charlie Barker; 6 Samuel Pittman; 7 Rhondell Stabana; 8 Sam Tebbs;

Replacements
16 Cameron Finlay; 17 Joshua Roberts; 18 David Cowell