Weddington Road, Nuneaton - Saturday 2nd April 2016

Match report by Chris 'Cakes' Phillips, action photos by Simon Grieve, video highlights by Ozzie and Alejo Misol....

Banbury traveled away to Nuneaton on Saturday and secured a bonus point win which puts themselves within 1 point of securing the league title. But they had it far from all their own way in the 34-43 victory.

Banbury stuttered from the start as they failed to secure the KO and allowed Nuneaton to gather the ball on the edge of the Banbury 22. Luckily the drop goal attempt from the Nuneaton fly half, was off target.

Banbury secured a lineout on their own 10 metre line and the forwards drove Nuneaton back towards their 22. When it finally broke down the backs looked to go wide early buy Sam Stoop was read by the opposition defence as he threw a telegraphed interception pass. The Nuneaton centre ran in unopposed from inside his own half. With the conversion they took a 7-0 lead. The next score was again for the home side when one of Banbury’s back line got over excited at the ruck and played the 9 before the ball was out, a successful kick made it 10-0.

Banbury struck next as a 22 drop out was not dealt with convincingly by Nuneaton. Banbury secured the ball and worked the blindside allowing George Grieve to hand-off tacklers and streak down the wing to score his first ever Bulls try from deep. Sam Stoop, taking over the kicking duties from injured captain Ed Phillips was off target, 10-5.

Nuneaton’s hard running lines and big runners were causing Banbury some problems and one such run lead to the next score. Off the top of a line out Nuneaton made good first phase ground up the middle. The cover defence could only just scramble back in time. However Nuneaton recycled well to go over by the posts. Converted to extend the lead to 17-5.

Banbury finally got themselves into gear and ended the half in better form. A lineout move inside the 22 saw Manu Paniagua come close. Recycling and working phases Banbury built pressure before moving the ball. Stoop, looking to make amends for his early wayward pass, again looked to go wide. This time the pass beat the defence and Joe Mills was able to canter in for his first try of the day. Converted by Stoop, 18-12.

An untidy lineout lead to an exchange of kicks, eventually run back by Banbury in the form of Jed Boyle, side stepping his way into the 22. The forwards carried the ball hard deeper into the 22, before Jacob Mills joined his brother on the score sheet by crashing over the line carrying two defenders with him. Stoop again on target to end the half 17-19 to the visitors.

Banbury starting securing better ball and field position in the second half. The pack used this to link in well and allow James Page to make yards up the field. The back line posed to take the opportunity, which they did with precision. Joe Mills was put in out wide by Carl Daniels and able to get back round under the posts. Stoop converts for 17-26.

From the restart Banbury secured the ball and fed man-of-the-match Ian Isham (pictured above) who beat the defence on a trademark rampaging run gaining plenty of ground. Wes Hallam was on hand to take the ball deeper into the 22. The Nuneaton defence was unable to recover in time to stop Chris Phillips from scoring from the resulting ruck. Unfortunately “Fore Right” was the cry as Stoop shanked the conversion into the huddled Nuneaton players.

A half charged down box kick lead to the next Banbury score, and a bit of breathing space. After securing the ball, Banbury tried to force the offload. Deegan managed to gather the ball, slip a tackle on the 22 and skirt in for a converted score, 17-38.

Nuneaton weren’t finished and they gained ground and a lineout about 8m out. Poorly executed defence from Banbury allowed Nuneaton a simple drive over for 22-38.

Nuneaton came again, working the ball around the ruck and crashing over in the corner for 27-38. Another score for the home side took the score to 34-38 and a few nervous moments for the Banbury faithful.

What turned out to be the last play of the game was a Nuneaton scrum on half way. A good push from the Banbury pack allowed Simon Brand to hack the loose ball up field. Chasing his own kick Brand popped the ball to the fast approaching Grieve who beat the last man to go over the line for his second try and took the score to a more relaxed 34-43 at the final whistle.