After a tight first 40 minutes against a resolute Dunlop side, who nearly executed the perfect game plan, Banbury ran away with a bonus point win as their class shone through in the last 30 mins with Sean Banister completing his hat-trick.

The rain threatened on a cold day in Coventry, but stayed away and allowed two competitive sides, with differing game plans go head-to-head. The ground was good to soft, soft in places, which would have just about suited both sides. Banbury kicked off and Dunlop settled straight into their direct style of play.

The home side were providing themselves with quick ball and were using their big forwards to make ground and test Banbury’s organisation. Possession and territory swung one way then the other, with both side punished harshly at the break down throughout the 80 mins. It was from a Dunlop Penalty that Banbury opened their account. Fly half Sam Stoop - who’s left boot operated with pin point accuracy all afternoon - found touch 10 metres out. The Bulls line out was slick and the forwards gained momentum in the maul, Sean Banister (pictured above) timed his charge for the line from 5 metres perfectly and crashed over the line to make it 0-5. Phillips added the extras, 0-7.

Banbury had the majority of the ball and field position for the remainder of the half and Phillips added 3 points from the tee to make the score 0-10 in an infringement that saw the Dunlop captain receive a yellow card. But for the remainder of the half Dunlop’s defence pressured Banbury in mistake after mistake, as well as this Dunlop turned the ball over in their 22 on a handful of occasions. This lifted the home side at the same time as testing the league leaders resolve. In the final play of the half Dunlop marched down field, they were awarded a penalty under the posts, Banbury switched off and the Dunlop captain took a quick tap and crashed over between the uprights, leaving an easy conversion. The half time score was 7-10 and the Bulls evened up the yellow card tally as veteran number 8 Simon Brand helped himself to 10 mins the bin.

The first 10 mins of the second half continued in the same vain as the first, Banbury were scrappy, and couldn’t get their fluid style of rugby flowing. But they did stay strong with just 14 men, still having the upper hand in the scrum. The return of Simon Brand kicked Banbury back into life. An attacking scrum gave the Bulls backs a platform to play from, and Joe Mills ran a cutting line, Stoop found him with a long miss pass and Banbury extended their lead to 7-15. Phillips added the extras from out wide, 7-17.

The game was now in the balance, Dunlop will have wanted to get their hands on the ball and keep it tight, but it was the visitors who were able to shift through the gears. From the restart forward runners made ground, the backs went wide, but Dunlop scrambled well in defence. A second yellow for Dunlop meant the game had shifted in the Bulls favour, and they had the killer instinct to match.

The try’s started to flow, Phillips crossed the line twice, converting both. 29-7. Banister added two more completing his hat-trick, Phillips missing one attempt, making the score 41-7. To Dunlop’s credit they did not give up, and it clear to see why they had won 6 out of their last 7 games before Saturday, and finished the game with a training park penalty move which was completed perfectly to open up the defence and dot down under the posts.

The score was 14-41 with just under five mins remaining. Dunlop rallied to try and get a 4 try bonus point, which would have been a point they deserved, but the game somewhat fizzled out. Banbury ran the clock down and took the spoils.

Next week’s top of the table cash could define the season for both Banbury and Earlsdon at Bodicote Park, the kick-off is at 2.15pm.