Banbury Bulls struck early in the match through prop Cash Chilvers. After fielding a deep clearance kick, Joe Mills moved the ball to Jack Briggs. With little on, Briggs put up an up and under, recent signing Freddie Cracknell (pictured) took the ball superbly over his shoulder and moved to the edge of the Maids 22.

Offloading to Briggs the ball was carried to the 5m line. With the Maids defence still trying to scramble back into position, the ball was recycled down the short side. Chilvers, not needing the 3 on 1 overlap, used his signature dummy to create himself just enough space to crash over the line. Ed Phillips was on target with the conversion, 7-0.

Banbury extended their lead though Phillips’ boot. After working the phases through forward runners and making inroads, Maids infringed at the breakdown while trying to turn the ball over. From just inside the Maids 10m line Phillips was on target; 10-0.
The next period of the game was very tight. Both teams defence cancelled each other out. Each time some advantage and field possession was gained, the defence would come out on top. Maids were putting increasing pressure on a Banbury scrum starting to creak, although each side took a scrum against the head during this period.

It was the Bulls who struck next, this time Cracknell crossing the line in the Clubhouse corner. Banbury, gained field position and a platform through good tactical kicking and hard carries. This enabled two good forward carries and Sam Stoop to rewind the play, throwing a miss pass to Matt Goode. A flat pass from Goode to Cracknell was deemed alright by the referee as he went over in front of a jubilant home crowd. Phillips was again on target; 17-0.

Banbury had to put in a very solid defensive performance to keep Maidenhead out for the rest of the half. Banbury strengthened the scrum up, by bringing on Ken Key in the front row and even though the pressure told as Chris Phillips received a yellow, for repeated high tackles, Banbury managed to repel each attack to end the half 17 points to nil up.

The Bulls again used Ed Phillips’ reliable boot to extend the lead to 20-0, as he kicked an early second half penalty.
The second half started with Maidenhead receiving a yellow for an infringement in the tackle, both sides therefore down to 14 men for the first part of the second half. Although the early exchanges were again close in the second half, it was Maidenhead who got on the score board next.

Banbury gave away a penalty in the middle of the park, allowing maids to kick and set up through a solid driving lineout. Although the initial threat was stopped, Maids went to their back line and through a quick offload out the tackle in midfield they crossed the line; 20-7.

All but straight from the restart Maids were on the front foot again. They made good yards, after some sloppy defending and kept the ball well. Phases were worked in midfield, before shipping the ball back to the right. Again, nice off-loading in the tackle gave them the overlap out wide, which was not wasted; 20-12.

Maidenhead continued their would-be comeback as they came back at the Bulls again. Banbury’s previously solid defence was inviting pressure as they allowed Maids to run at them. Eventually the pressure told and Maidenhead scored another unconverted try; 20-17.

Banbury stepped up their defence and work-rate both on and off the ball. Taking another scrum against the head allowed pressure to be relieved through Goode’s boot, as Stoop had delegated clearance kicking duties. The Bulls retained the ball well at the end as they ran the clock down, eventually elapsing time and bringing an infringement at the breakdown.

The penalty, gently nudged into touch, sealed a well-deserved 20-17 victory against obvious league-title contenders.