Banbury RUFC’s league season came to a close under sunny skies at Haslams, but it was Derby who shone brightest, running out 62-29 winners in a high-scoring affair.

The Bulls made the perfect start as Quinten Blythe broke through early following sustained pressure from the kick-off, with Tommy Gray providing the assist. But the joy was short-lived—Derby struck back immediately and began to flex their attacking muscles, exploiting missed tackles and defensive lapses to notch four first-half tries. Banbury kept themselves in the game through tries from Ollie Nicholls and Callum Tarbit—both well taken—and a Tommy Gray penalty reduced the gap to just four points at 26-22. However, two late Derby scores before the break saw the hosts stretch ahead 40-22 by half time.

Half Time - Derby 40-22 Banbury

Banbury needed a quick response in the second half, and Jacob Drabble delivered with a sharp intercept try that narrowed the deficit to 11. But from there, the game began to unravel. Despite some bright moments in attack, defensive organisation let the Bulls down again and Derby added four more tries in the second forty. The final whistle brought an end to a frustrating afternoon—and season—for the Bulls.

Half Time - Derby 62-29 Banbury

There was one poignant note: the match marked the final appearance of club stalwart Tommy Gray. A model of commitment and class, Tommy bows out after giving everything for the badge. He’ll be missed on and off the pitch.

Derby RFC
Starting XV
15 McGrath Van Wyk; 14 Ryan Milton; 13 Lui Natui; 12 Ben Wilcox; 11 Lewis Hancock; 10 Joshua Bingham; 9 Joseph Acton;
1 Simon Moon; 2 Jack Bates; 3 Nathaniel Bevan-Brown; 4 James Godfrey; 5 Andrew Oliver Fletcher; 6 Jeremiah Oldfield; 7 Jake Barker; 8 Sam Tebbs

Replacements
16 Cameron Finlay; 17 Joshua Tizard; 18 Jacob S A Roome;

Banbury RUFC
Starting XV
15 Joe Mills; 14 Freddy Bunce; 13 Quinten Blythe; 12 Callum Tarbit; 11 Charlie Cranley; 10 Tommy Gray; 9 Ollie Nicholl;
1 James Leonardi; 2 Sean Woollard; 3 Quade Leo; 4 Jacob Turner; 5 Louis Tooth; 6 Jacob Drabble; 7 Zach Garrett; 8 James Hibbert

Replacements
16 Oliver Rowe-Wooding; 17 Dan Kirwin; 18 Oscar Triggs;