Rosehill, Emmer Green, Reading – Saturday 19th November 2016

Match report by Ed Phillips.

The score line doesn’t reflect how open the game was at times on a grey day on the outskirts of Reading. Both teams had opportunities to add to their try tally, but some great scrambling defence and poor decisions made for a close game that was ultimately settled by two pieces of individual skill from Banbury’s captain and Vice Captain.

Banbury started the game on the front foot. Alex Stevenson, coming in at fly half in a re-jigged backline with John Fox unavailable, penned Abbey well back into their own half with his left boot. The Bulls were able to use the field position well with ball in hand and built multiple phases. This saw them make good ground and get deep into Abbey’s 22. Skipper Ian Isham ran a hard line at the heart of the home side’s defence and in a moment of sheer brilliance, showed his dancing feet which left the defender chasing his shadow and he was in under the posts. Ed Phillips (pictured) added the conversion to make it 7-0.

Banbury continued to play the territory game and added to their lead with a simple penalty from Phillips as Jacob Mills was tackled early without the ball when he was seemingly lining up to score, just a penalty was considered enough punishment by the referee. Phillips slotted the points for a 10-0 Banbury lead. The last play of the first half saw Banbury awarded another penalty in front of the posts 35 metres out, Phillips uncharacteristically missed a very easy opportunity that would have put the visitors 13-0 up at the break.

Reading Abbey started the second half strongly, and continued to use their big strong runners effectively. They turned this pressure into point via a penalty to make the score 10-3.

Banbury didn’t let this alter their game plan of playing rugby in the Abbey half. Despite a few wayward box kicks from Phillips into the dangerous Abbey full back’s grasp, luckily his pace was matched by man of the match Alex Gandy who made two or three try saving tackles.

Phillips cancelled out Abbey’s penalty to restore the visitors 10 point lead at 13-3, before creating Banbury’s second try. He picked the ball up and looked to attack on the short side 7 metres from the home sides line. The defence rushed up too quickly and the scrum half spotted space in behind. He grubbered through off the outside of his boot and centre Jack Briggs, who had read his mentors mind, collected the ball and dived over the line. Phillips was just off target with the conversion from the touchline. 18-3 to the Bulls.

There was still 20 minutes to play in the game and Abbey were not in the mood to roll over. They received two yellow cards in a minute, but were able to prevent Banbury from adding to their lead. Abbey were buoyed by the return of their sin binned players and came back at the visitors once more. Under pressure, Banbury received a yellow card for trying to slow the ball down in their own 22. They continued to defend well and kept the home side from scoring until, in an identical incident to one from the first half, Chris Phillips tackled a player too early and stopped a try scoring opportunity. This time the referee saw fit to award a yellow card and a penalty try, which was converted to make the score 18-10.

With 10 mins on the clock this could have been squeaky-bum time, but Banbury closed the game out perfectly. Ed Phillips turned the ball over twice 5 metres out from their line, and Banbury retained the ball with some patient play from the backs and forwards alike. The match finished with Banbury in the Abbey half and all the tension for the travelling Banbury faithful was eased.

Banbury have climbed up the South West 1 (East) table with back-to-back wins over the two Reading sides and are now just 6 points behind Old Centralians in fifth place. The Bulls entertain fourth place Royal Wotton Bassett at Bodicote Park next Saturday.