The Bulls kick started the 2024/25 season at an overcast Graf UK Stadium to face Derby RFC on the opening day. With the summer still clinging on the Bulls went back into action. The match started with a bang with a fantastic try from Kelvyn Togia who crashed over on his debut for the Bulls. Conversion was missed [5-0]. Moments later months on from a famous try at Twickenham, Owen Wildgoose opens his account for the season. From a loose kick up field from Derby of all people for it to fall too Wildgoose picks up and goes on a winding run cutting through the Derby defense and touching down under the posts. Tommy Gray added the extras [12-0]. The Bulls were pulling away with barely fifteen minutes gone at the Graf with James Hibbert also opening his account for the season. With the Bulls forwards leading the way the athleticism and strength of Hibbert saw Banbury cross for their third try of the afternoon, conversion was successful [19-0]. The Bulls were fully in command as they entered the second quarter of the match and just on time Jacob Turner after six months out after suffering a horrendous knee injury last season secured the bonus point for the Bulls. The captain deserved the try and indeed how poetic it was to secure the bonus point. Conversion successful [26-0]. Just like a London bus, a second Wildgoose try was just around the corner. Starting with a fantastic passage of play from Tommy Gray he drew the pass and found Wildgoose in the wings to touch down. Conversion was missed [31-0]. The second quarter came to a close with the visitors going down to fourteen from an adjudged deliberate knock on. The half ended on a good note for the Bulls with Joe Mills touching down. With Tommy Gray striking again to create the try he perfectly set up Mills to send the Bull in with a strong lead. Conversion was successful [38-0]. Unfortunately two injuries to two bright sparks in the first half in Nicholl and Hibbert were the only negatives in a fantastic first half performance.

Half Time - Banbury 38-0 Derby

The Bulls continued as they left off as moments into the second half they secured their seventh try of the afternoon through Alex Wilton. From a loose ball Quinten Blythe took possession and kicked it cross field which finds Bulls hands and with Wilton exchanging passes with Freddy Bunce he touched down close to the posts. Conversion was successful [45-0]. In a busy first ten minutes of the second half it was Wildgoose again who secured his hat-trick for the afternoon. Another perfectly times pass from Tommy Gray flung out to his left was met by an on rushing Wildgoose to take possession and score under the posts. Conversion was successful [52-0]. Next it was Derby to register points on the scoreboard, in a tough afternoon the visitors scored a well worked and deserved try to the right of the posts, conversion was quickly slotted successfully [52-7]. Unfortunately after a steady period to the match Derby were back down to fourteen after already being on a final warning the ref’s patience ran out. Events then went from bad to worse when straight after the card saw Banbury secure their ninth try of the match with a second from Togia driving from the back of a rolling maul. Conversion was unsuccessful [57-7]. The final ten minutes was all Banbury with two tries in quick succession coming for the Bulls to truly make a statement. First, Wildgoose secured his fourth of the afternoon with absolute brilliance in a rich vein of form with fantastic confidence on show. Conversion unsuccessful [62-7]. Secondly, Ed Berridge, who gave so much in the match deserved his try after a well worked run from Wildgooose who came close to his fifth but gave a fantastic offload down the left hand side outward to Berridge who dived over in the corner. Conversion was successful [69-7].

In a dominant display laying down a marker on the first day this was a great start to our centenary season and the 2024/25 season as a whole. The Bulls travel to new side Dudley Kingswinford next weekend.

Full Time - Banbury 69-7 Derby

Player of the Match - Presented by AllSafe Scaffolding

Congratulations to today's Banbury Man of the Match, Matt Dandy. There were so many candidates for the award today but Matt was everywhere, he had an excellent game.

Thank you to match sponsors AllSafe Scaffolding who presented the award.

Banbury
Starting XV
15 Quinten Blythe; 14 Owen Wildgoose; 13 Freddy Bunce; 12 Daniel Hale; 11 Alex Wilton;
10 Tommy Gray; 9 Ollie Nicholl;
1. James Leonardi (VC); 2. Kelvyn Togia; 3. Quade Leo; 4. Jacob Turner ©; 5. Will Thurlow; 6. James Hibbert; 7. Matt Dandy; 8. Ed Berridge;

Replacements
16 Ethan Gudge; 17 Jacob Drabble; 18 Joe Mills;

Derby
Starting XV
15 Ryan Milton; 14 William Town; 13 Archie Murdock; 12 Jack Partington; 11Cameron Finlay; 10 Joshua Bingham; 9 Joseph Acton;
1 Simon Moon; 2 Jack Bates; 3 Michael Johns; 4 Andrew Fletcher; 5 Charlie Barker; 6 Samuel Pittman; 7 Andrew Harriott; 8 Sam Tebbs;

Replacements
16 Nathaniel Bevan-Brown; 17 Harry Cook; 18 James Hather