Banbury made the trip to Finstall Park for their eighteenth outing of the season, looking to bounce back after last week's defeat. On a bright but blustery afternoon, the Bulls showed heart and flashes of quality, but ultimately fell to a clinical Bromsgrove side who capitalised on key moments to seal a deserved win.

The Bulls struck first through Gus Stapleton, who finished off a superb break from Sean Woolard to open the scoring, with the conversion giving Banbury a 7-0 lead. Bromsgrove responded with a penalty and two well-worked tries, showcasing their tempo and sharp offloading to wrestle back momentum. Another penalty for the hosts extended their lead before Dan Hale slotted a three-pointer for Banbury after a high tackle on Leo. At the break, Bromsgrove held a 20-10 advantage in what had been a fast-paced and entertaining first half.

Half Time - Bromsgrove 20-10 Banbury

Banbury came out firing in the second period, and debutant Zach Garrett marked his first senior appearance with a well-taken try from a driven lineout. However, despite their effort and improved cohesion, the Bulls couldn't regain the lead. A controversial turnover – with shouts for a high tackle ignored, allowed Bromsgrove to counter for a try against the run of play, before another slick attack saw them seal the game with a score in the corner.

The final score of 35-15 flattered the hosts slightly, with Banbury putting in a committed performance full of grit and glimpses of promise. It wasn’t the result the Bulls wanted, but the signs of progress were clear, and the squad can take plenty of positives into next week’s fixture.

Full Time - Bromsgrove 35-15 Banbury

Player of the Match: Zach Garrett – A dream debut try and a confident performance from the 17-year-old.

Bromsgrove RFC
Starting XV
15 Oliver Ingram; 14 Jordan Maddocks; 13 George Amphlett; 12 Thomas Mitchell; 11 Harvey Shaw; 10 Will Tanner; 9 Benjamin Tibbetts;
1 James Constantine; 2 Findlay Marsh; 3 Finn Haynes; 4 John Lenton-Jinks; 5 Jack Medley; 6 Richard Hance; 7 Thomas Cubitt; 8 George Meader;

Replacements
16 William Parkes; 17 Dylan Beech-Bailey; 18 Daniel Rodden;

Banbury RUFC
Starting XV
15 Gus Stapleton; 14 Callum Tarbit; 13 Dan Hale; 12 Oscar Triggs; 11 Charlie Cranley; 10 Joe Mills; 9 Ollie Nicholl;
1 James Leonardi; 2 Sean Woollard; 3 Simon Bailey; 4 Jacob Turner; 5 Douglas Backhouse; 6 Zach Garrett; 7 Jacob Drabble; 8 Quade Leo;

Replacements
16 Louis Tooth; 17 Gabriel Smith; 18 Freddy Bunce;