Malmesbury Road, Royal Wootton Bassett – Saturday 25th March 2017.

Match report by Steve Boyle.

Banbury were welcomed to Royal Wootton Bassett ‘s Ballards Ash Ground, the game kicked off bathed in bright sunshine with a stiff breeze behind the Banbury team.

The early exchanges saw Banbury playing as brightly as the day, quick rucking and dominating possession, with skipper Ian Isham and Cashel Chilvers (pictured) bashing big holes in a shocked RWB defensive line, the Referee giving penalty after penalty to the rampant Banbury forwards.

Quick hands from left to right saw Banbury gain meters each phase and as the numerous phases clocked up RWB got sucked into a ruck leaving a hole for Chilvers to crash over the line, the kick was completed by Phillips, 7 – 0 to Banbury after 10 minutes.

At the restart the game ebbed and flowed with both teams attacking and defending well, the game essentially stayed between the teams twenty twos , but slowly RWB gained a foothold, and had a penalty kick missed to the side of the post.

This kick signalled a start to their comeback, they gave Banbury back all we had started with and more, the attacks came thick and fast at Banbury. Then a slick move through the Hands saw the RWB winger step inside and score out wide, the score then 5 – 7.

The kick missed, but the onslaught continued, again the RWB pack turned over ball in midfield with the scrumhalf getting ball out quickly for another try under the posts before half time, 13 – 7, and Banbury fortunate to be only that much down, A few half time changes off the bench by the coach.

The Second half continued with RWB dominating play. Quick ball was again secured and poor tackling saw RWB in again, 18 – 7. Then again on restart almost an identical effort by RWB, saw big runs through by the forwards, and sucking in Banbury defenders, with gaps out wide for the RWB centre to dash through outstretched arms and score again, this time with the kick completed, 25 – 7.

The game followed this pattern and RWB ran in another two tries with constant attacking leaving the score 39 – 7, but just as the tides turn Banbury found some form, again Isham, Chris Phillips and Chilvers started to make holes in the RWB defence and the belief filled the Banbury team.

Ruck and maul, Banbury moved up the pitch, Ed Phillips gained quick ball from the ruck base and spun the ball wide, this stretched the defenders, one more tackle and ruck saw a short ball into Chilvers who crashed over, the restart saw the same again, Banbury retrieving ball and working up the pitch, 7 then 8 phases of play and RWB were all sucked in and a big gap out wide.

The Banbury backs put the ball through the hands and this allowed Jimmy Manley to crash over, the final score saw it 39 – 19 in favour of the hosts. Banbury will need to play rugby for longer than the 20 minutes they did to ensure a home win next week.