Saturday 5th November 2016, Bodicote Park

Match report by Ed Phillips, photo by Andrew Condie

As well as taking the league spoils from visitors Reading RFC, Banbury were also awarded the inaugural Tim Rogers Cup by Tim’s widow Jessica following their 31-10 bonus point win, sealed with a solid second half performance.

There was a stiff breeze blowing down the field and the visitors were playing with it at their backs in the first half. Banbury yet again conceded first and everyone could have feared the worst. The conversation was missed making the score 5-0 to the visitors in this must-win battle at the lower end of the table.

The conditions played their part and made it easier for Reading to pen Banbury in their own half. Despite this it was the Bulls to get on the score sheet next as they opened their account via the boot of scrum-half Ed Phillips from a penalty taken directly into the wind, 5-3. This spurred the home side on and they started to look after the ball and in turn made their way up the field.

At the end of the half Banbury had a scrum in the middle of the park and another well worked move from the trio of Ed Phillips, Jacob Mills and Josh Deegan (pictured) saw Banbury break down the right, some neat inter play and off-loading saw Jacob Mills score after a determined effort to make the supporting line. Phillips added the extras to make the score 10-5 at half time.

The change of ends made Banbury strong favourites with the wind and they lived up to that billing with two unanswered scores. The first saw Cashel Chillvers power over underneath the uprights after Banbury had got in behind the Reading defence, leaving a straight forward conversion for Phillips, 17-5.

For the second, Banbury started to move the ball around more freely, this saw the Bulls attack first down the left, creating an overlap on the right where experienced second row Matt Brock was waiting and scored in front of a rapturous Clubhouse, Phillips made it 4 from 4 with the conversion, 24-5.

Reading gave themselves hope with a score from a tap penalty and some very feeble tackling, but this turned out to be a consolation. As soon as the conversion was missed by Reading Phillips was lining his next attempt. Banbury won the ball from the kick off and spread the ball right to full-back Joe Mills, who under extreme pressure, showed great vision and probed a grubber-kick deep into the Reading 22. Winger Deegan beat everyone to it easily and picked up and scored in the same motion. Phillips, in front of the Clubhouse faithful again continued his 100% accuracy from the tee, 31-10.

Banbury had more chances to score, but were unable to convert, Sam Mills’ pass to skipper Ian Isham was adjudged forward, but it wasn’t a crucial call as Banbury had already bagged the bonus point and Reading were unable to catch the home side.

John Colgrave made a fitting presentation which saw Jessica and grandson Dawson Rogers award the Tim Rogers Cup to Bulls skipper Ian Isham, a fitting end to a great President’s Day. Banbury will look to build on this win at home to Grove in the Oxfordshire Cup on Saturday.