Banbury Bull’s were always going to be facing a tough start to 2012 as they welcomed league leaders Barker Butt’s to Bodicote Park on Saturday. A new year saw a new backline with long-term injury returnees Adam Walsh and Andrew Collett making their first appearances of the season at outside centre and wing respectively. The pack saw Phil Fox continue at hooker after the colt’s impressive debut in the last game of 2011, with Andy Ell moving across to cover prop.

It seemed as though the festive lay off hadn’t really affected the teams too greatly as they both came out playing open rugby. Banbury were quick to put the pressure on the visitors who conceded a penalty within 5 minutes of the kick off, but skipper Eddie Phillips pushed his attempt wide. The home side were then unlucky not to open their account after some slick passing released Collett on the Barker’s 22 metre line. The powerful winger managed to turn his defender inside and out before darting for the line, only to be bundled into touch in the act of scoring by the covering defence.

However the score did not stay 0-0 for long as almost immediately Barker’s made their way into the Banbury 22 and were rewarded with a penalty which was duly slotted over. Worse was to follow as Banbury quickly conceded a try following some excellent quick rucking play by the visitors. With just 10 minutes gone, the Bulls were 8 points down.

Barker’s quickly realised that they had the upper-hand through their well-drilled rolling maul and made use of this at every opportunity, marching the home side back on numerous occasions. Banbury did little to help themselves by conceding a number of soft offside penalties that allowed the visitors to establish good field position, from which they extended their lead after 27 minutes.

Banbury however struck back immediately from the kick off as a rather wild pass went loose in the Barker’s midfield. Fly-half Joe Mills was quickest to react and chasing up his initial fly-hack he showed great footballing skills to nudge the ball under the posts and then win the foot race to score. Phillips was on target with the conversion and the scoreline now stood at 7-13 with just over 5 minutes of the half remaining.

But once again Banbury’s let their opposition score on the brink of half-time. Barker’s were pressurising the Banbury line, but Banbury had a chance to clear from a scrum. However when the ball was won against the head just 10 metres from the Bulls line it looked like a certain score. But solid tackling seemed to have kept the line intact until Banbury were adjudged to have committed a penalty just 5 metres from their line. A quick tap later and the Barker’s scrum-half dived over to extend the visitor’s lead to 13 points at half time (7-20).

Still very much in the game, Banbury turned around looking to start the second half as they’d started the first, but it was not to be as Barker’s tightened their game up and squeezed the life out of the Banbury forwards before releasing their backs. Barker’s scored quickly from the restart and then doubled their second half try tally after just 12 minutes. Suddenly Banbury were 7-32 down and looked down and out. Showing great resolve they took the game back to the league leader’s and after some good build up work by both forwards and backs, winger Billy McKenna set off on a run that saw him stopped just inches from the line. In the ensuing ruck, second-row James Burge was on hand to dive on the loose ball and score.

And more was to follow, when fly-half Mills again pounced on a loose Barker’s pass on the halfway line. This time gathering the ball, it was a race to the line. The young fly-half was pulled down with 10 metres to go, but was able to pop the ball up to the supporting Number 8, Simon Brand who evaded the final tackle and dived over beneath the posts to score. Phillips slotted the conversion and at 19-32 Banbury were sniffing a try-scoring bonus point and maybe even an unlikely comeback!

But it was not to be as Barker’s were to score 3 more tries, one an 85 metre run-in from an interception as Banbury looked for their fourth try, and one on the final whistle after some ‘shenanigans’ at scrum time was missed by the referee.

Once again Banbury put in a patchy performance that frustrated their coaches and supporters. Too many times good skills were followed by poor play and against the top of league this could only result in the 19-53 scoreline.

The Bulls will look to put things right as they travel away to Pershore next week.