The Bulls kickstarted their second match of the season with a new club in Dudley Kingswinford. The challenge of the late National 2 club tested the Bulls well, but unfortunately just fell short. The Bulls looked to bounce back against Bridgnorth at The Graf.

The match started with a bang with an unfortunate head injury and as soon as the match had kicked off we were at a stoppage. Moments later when the match got back underway it was the Bulls who struck first in a fantastically worked try from Charlie Cranley. With excellent work done by Tommy Gray to draw the defender away, he picked a perfectly timed pass to Cranley who glided through an opening in the Bridgnoeth defence to go over. The conversion was successful [7-0]. In the final stages of the first quarter, Bridgnorth took their opportunity with both hands. With a sneaky lineout move the Bridgnorth hooker took the visitors inches from the Bulls tryline. Working the ball well out to the backs they found a gap to drive over close to the posts. The conversion was successful [7-7]. The Bulls did not stick about and the perfect reply came moments later from Joe Mills. An excellently worked move from the backs which passed through everyone’s hands before offloading close to Mills who goes over to the side of the posts. The conversion is successful [14-7]. Entering the second quarter of the match it was Banbury who dominated the final stages of the half. First came a try tom Tommy Gray. With brilliant footwork, Gray took advantage of his pace skipping through two tackles before turning on the afterburners to burst through to score. The conversion was successful [21-7]. Second, came a try from Quinten Blythe, another fantastic piece of work from the Banbury backs. From a deep kick from Bridgnorth, the Bulls return the ball fantastically with a quick series of passes reaching Wildgoose who Blythe exchanged passes with before going over. The conversion was successful [28-7]. In the final moments of the half the Bulls went down to fourteen with Quade Leo seeing yellow for an adjudged high tackle from the referee.

In a perfect half for the Bulls, the yellow will be the only area of concern going into the second half. With the match close at times, it will be for the Bulls to be extra clinical going into the second period to seal the win.

Half Time - Banbury 28-7 Bridgnorth

The second half started with Bridgnorth laying down their claim in the half. With missed tackles the Bulls will be frustrated with, they cross to the right of the posts for their second try of the afternoon. The conversion was unsuccessful [28-12]. The second half was all Bridgnorth, moments later they got their third of the afternoon. From the base of the ruck, the opposition pack found momentum and drove over under the posts. The conversion was successful [28-19]. Moving into the final quarter with everything to play for it was Bridgnorth who found their bonus point try of the afternoon. It was the forwards again, finding real momentum they bundled over from close range to secure the red zone points. The conversion was successful [28-26].

In a drama-filled afternoon at the Graf, the Bulls secured the win at the death with a fantastically worked turnover. Showing true grit and winning ugly the job was done securing a valuable five points at home. The Bulls are back at home next week where we welcome another new club to the league in Silhillians to the Graf UK Stadium

Full Time - Banbury 28-26 Bridgnorth

Banbury
Starting XV
15 Quinten Blythe; 14 Charlie Cranley; 13 Daniel Hale; 12 Augustus Stapleton; 11 Owen Wildgoose; 10 Thomas Gray; 9 Joseph Mills
1 James Leonardi; 2 Kelvyn Togia; 3 Quade Leo; 4 Will Thurlow; 5 Louis Tooth; 6 Jacob Turner; 7 Matt Dandy; 8 Ed Berridge;

Replacements
16 Ethan Gudge; 17 Simon Bailey; 18 Oscar Triggs;

Bridgnorth
Starting XV
15 Jack Cole; 14 Luke Brough; 13 Oliver Neill; 12 Gareth Bladen; 11 Jordan Burgess; 10 Elliot Murphy; 9 Benjamin Ritson;
1 Jonah Boyce; 2 George Newman; 3 Ben Morris; 4 Morgan French; 5 Edward Taylor; 6 Haloti Molitika; 7 Charley Wright; 8 Adam Ellis;

[b] Replacements [/b
16 Jacob Tomkinson; 17 Huw Taylor; 18 Manasa Qio Volaikisuva