Bodicote Park – Saturday 17th December 2016

Match report by Chris ‘Cakes’ Phillips

The Bulls ended 2016 with a bonus point home win in game containing 10 tries against a pretty ‘physical’ Chippenham team. Banbury’s 7 try win contain a brace of braces as Josh Deegan and Matt Goode crossed the line twice each, seeing the side climb to 5th in the South West 1 table.

The game started brightly with Banbury’s first attack resulted in the Bulls being awarded a penalty inside the Chippenham 22, Ed Phillips was however off target. Banbury’s next attack bore more fruit. First-phase ball from the lineout was carried up by Cashel Chilvers, a move which would typify his man of the match performance. This allowed the backs some room to work with and Goode picked a line between two defenders and too strong for them to stop effectively as he went over just to the right of the posts. Phillips was on target with this kick for a 7-0 lead.

Banbury didn’t have to wat long to notch another score. Another successful lineout and another big carry from the pack, Ed Phillips tried to nip around the ruck. After he was stopped and Michael Fox cleaned up some scruffy ball, Chris Phillips was able to scoop up the ball and evade a couple of defender to stretch out for the line. Another successful kick by Ed Phillips for a 14-0 lead.
Chippenham chipped away at Banbury’s lead by kicking a penalty to make it 14-3.

The Bulls replied with their third try and Josh Deegan’s first. Banbury stole a lineout and worked the phases in midfield. After the platform was set the ball was moved wide where Deegan slipped inside the cover defence to cross in the corner to make it 19-3.
The half ended with Chippenham reducing the deficit to 9 points. Banbury gave away a penalty, which allowed Chippenham good field position for a lineout. The initial drive was stopped but the forwards worked around the fringe until they finally broke through for a try. 19-10 to the Bulls at the break.

Banbury started the second half in good fashion. Fly-half Sam Stoop kicked the ball deep into Chippenham’s 22. An untidy lineout was lost by the visitors and cleaned up by Banbury skipper Ian Isham. He powered his way to the line carrying a couple of defenders with him. A successful conversion and the score stood at 26-10.

The Bulls kept the pressure on and it told as Goode crossed for his second. After gathering a clearance kick and going through phases to secure a better platform, Goode hit a hard line off Stoop on the edge of the 22 to romp in under the posts. There was a bit of an altercation resulting in a yellow card for Chippenham, before Ed Phillips notched the kick for 33-10.

Banbury capped their best period of the game with a try for Academy Colt debutant Dan Brady. Following a lineout on half way Chilvers carried the ball hard and deep into Chippenham territory. With their defence breached and disorganised, Banbury quickly moved the ball to the left wing, where Brady showed good feet to finish well in the corner. 38-10.

The next notable part of the game, was unfortunately a red card for the visitors. In a moment of madness Chippenham’s centre threw a punch right in front of the referee, who was left with little option but to send him for an early bath.

Surprisingly this seemed to spark Chippenham into playing a bit more rugby. They gained field position through ill-discipline from Banbury and again worked multiple phases to go over around the ruck. 38-17.

Banbury’s 7th try, and Deegan’s second, came from a scrum inside their own half. Going to the blindside, a training ground move enabled full-back Joe Mills to put boot to ball. Deegan’s little legs had to work overtime but he won the foot race against his opposite number, 43-17.

The game ended like the first half with Chippenham again crossing the whitewash. They moved the ball wide in the Banbury 22. As the tackles came in, bundling the attack towards touch, the ball was grounded just before the touchline could intervene. It was the last play of the game, ending with a very satisfactory 43-22 victory for the hosts.