Bodicote Park - Saturday 9th April 2016

Match report by Ed Phillips, action photos & video by Simon Grieve.

As 3pm approached at Bodicote Park on Saturday the crowd started to swell in anticipation of watching Banbury secure the Midlands 2 West (South) League title and promotion to level 6 rugby. Banbury were forced to show the depth of their squad with the entourage of injured players nearly matched by the number of players who took the field. But this was not going to stop the Champions elect making it their day!

The Bulls started superbly as they so often have this season. Pinley’s tactic of kicking the ball to Banbury’s back three seemed to play into the Bulls hands, Joe Mills fielded the ball and fed John Fox, who straightened well to fix the cover defence, he had option both sides, he chose to go inside to number 8 Simon Brand who saw the perfectly timed run of winger George Grieve (pictured above) who went in untroubled under the posts. Sam Stoop converted 7-0.

The Bulls looked like champions as they added to their lead almost straight away, again through Grieve and again through a Pinley kick. This time Grieve had players to beat and he made his opposite man on the right wing look as if he was chasing shadows. Grieve ran around under the post to make it 4 tries in two games for the teenager, but Stoop hit the upright to leave the score 12-0.

Pinley stuck with their tactic of lots of kicking and Banbury continued to run the ball back. Pinley’s defence became more organised but Banbury still used this as an attacking platform. James Page playing in his preferred back row role rather than second row as he has done many times this year, added to Banbury’s lead. Coming from right of the sticks he muscled through 3 or 4 defenders before crashing over under the posts. Stoop added the extras to make it 19-0.

Three early tries from Banbury could have led to the game being a non-event, but Pinley changed their kicking game to a lot more physical one. This lead to 3 yellow cards before half time, one to Banbury’s centre Adam Walsh, and two to Pinley for foul play. Carl Daniels secured the fourth try bonus point with a good finish on the left touch line, Stoop just wide from a tough angle.

Pinley’s only visit to Banbury’s 22 during the half resulted in 3 points in the form of a penalty shot at goal. The sides turned around with the score 24-3 and Banbury seemingly well in control.

Banbury started the second half as they finished the first, trying to play rugby, while the visitors tried to stop them by any means possible. Banbury had a try disallowed, as Joe Mills was adjudged to have knocked on over the line. This would have been Banbury’s best try of the match, with great handling and support from forwards and backs a like, but it was not to be.

Banbury extended their lead through the seasons top scorer, Joe Mills, who this time made sure the referee couldn’t interpret his grounding as a knock on! This brought Mills tally to 23 tries in 20 league appearances, quite incredible at this level. Stoop, carrying an injury, was having a tricky day from the tee and the lead remained 29-3.

Pinley started at spirted comeback with 30 mins left on the clock. They added 21 unanswered points in 20 mins, this quietened the Banbury faithful, and you could feel the nerves straining around Bodicote Park. But Banbury took control again, they played the final 10minutes out not only in the Pinley half, but pushing for another try, unfortunately they couldn’t find their way over the line again, but it didn’t matter, Banbury are crowned Champions of Midlands 2 West (South) and, of course, Oxfordshire County Champions too.