Datchet Road - Saturday 8th April 2016.

Match report by Ed Phillips.

Despite remaining in 6th position in the league, and having the Oxfordshire Cup Final to look forward to on Thursday, Banbury’s performances have really fallen off the pace recently, and Saturday was no different. A pumped up Windsor side, fighting for their lives at home in the sunshine showed the Bulls up in all areas. Thus it turned into a long afternoon under the royal castle on the Datchet Road ground.

Banbury started solidly, before conceding an interception try in the opening exchanges somewhat against the run of play. Albeit from 7-0 down, the Bulls continued to keep hold of the ball for long periods in the first half, but struggled to make inroads through the well organised Windsor defence, and certainly couldn’t find room on the outside on the small Windsor pitch. Banbury conceded again before half time to go into the break at 14-0 down, but this shouldn’t have been the end of the match as a contest.

Windsor soon had two more tries, plus a 4-try bonus point, and added one of the conversions which increased their lead to 26 points. This finally rallied Banbury into action for a short spell where they scored their only points of the match when Jacob Mills (pictured) crashed over from short range and Ed Phillips added the conversation to close the gap to 26-7.

Unfortunately for the Bulls they were unable to build on this, and Windsor came back strong adding another converted try and a penalty to secure the win and finish an all too familiar poor performance from Banbury.

There needs to be a wholesale change of attitude and application for Thursday night’s clash with Oxford University Greyhounds, but it is a lot easier said than done. If nothing else the occasion and the fact they are defending their Oxfordshire Cup should give them the impetus they need to finish the season with some credibility.