Three tries in the first half and two more in the second sealed the 5 point win against a stubborn and committed Leamington side, who rallied to the end testing the visitors resolute defence deep into the second half, but the Bulls held strong to maintain their 9 point lead at the top of the Midlands 2 West (South) table.

This local derby hasn’t proved the happiest of fixtures for Banbury, having lost the last six matches at the Kenilworth Road ground, but the Bulls finally overcame their bogie fixture. Banbury attacked from the outset, they let the ball travel dead from the kick off and were on the front foot from the resulting scrum on half way, which eventually saw George Grieve (pictured above) bundled into touch in the bottom left corner.

The game as a spectacle struggled to win any prizes, but both teams were trying their utmost to get a foot hold and maintain possession long enough to establish a game plan. It was Banbury who got closest to this in the first half. Gaining field position through one of numerous penalties given away at the break down. They kick to the corner and Sean Banister continued his rich vein of try scoring form with another well finished effort from the base of the maul. Phillips added the extra points. 0-7.

If this didn’t settled any early nerves that Banbury would have had hanging over their heads from this fixture, then the try from the re-start would! Banbury fielded the ball and Phillips box kicked to clear. Leamington’s covering scrum half and full back collided under the high ball which bounced up into the chasing Walsh’s hands, who ran in unopposed from 40 metres out. Phillips again added the conversion to make the score 0-14.

Leamington regrouped the best they could, but naturally conceding two try’s in as many minutes knocked their confidence. Banbury were getting ever closer to their fluent best, but were slightly off the boil. This didn’t stop them scoring again before the half was out. Again a kick to the corner, but the line out was dealt with by the home side. Phillips sniped from the base fooling his opposite man with a show and go and trotted over, missing the conversion. The Bulls went into the break 0-19 up.

The second half followed the pattern of the first, both teams were able to stop the other getting to their stride, meaning patches of flowing rugby were relatively scarce. It took the Bulls 15 minutes of the second period to secure the bonus point. A long missed pass from Fox to Grieve over the Leamington rush defence made the opportunity, and Mills found Walsh out wide for his second. Phillips landed the conversion from wide on the left. 0-26

Banbury’s final try started deep in their own 22, a blind side move from the base put Deegan away on the right, he chipped over the full back, the covering winger beat Deegan to the ball but must have been distracted - probably by Trina shouting "Go on Josheeeeeee!" - and completely missed the ball! Deegan swept it up and finished the move by diving over the line. Phillips was off target. 0-31.

The remainder of the game belonged to Leamington, who put the most phases of the game together by either team. They were denied right on the line 2 or 3 times, and probably deserved a try for their efforts, but the Bulls were deserved winners in the end.

Banbury’s next game sees them playing Oxford Harlequins in the Oxfordshire Cup Semi Final on Friday 11th March at Bodicote Park, 7.30pm kick off.