DCS Stadium at Bodicote Park – Saturday 28th October 2017

Match report by Alex Inch, action photos by Simon Grieve

Before the match kicked off there was an immaculate minutes silence from both teams and their supporters to remember former Banbury Captain and President John B. Phillips.

When the game started Banbury came out the blocks looking very dangerous. Sustained pressure saw the Bulls deep in the opposition half. Banbury kicked to the corner after being awarded a penalty. Ian Isham found his target at the following lineout, he gathered the ball at the back of the rolling maul and great work from the pack eventually saw Ian Isham touch the ball down wide to the right. Ed Phillips nailed a tricky conversion in windy conditions to give Banbury an early 7-0 lead.

It wasn’t long before Banbury were increasing their lead. Ian Isham got Banbury on the front foot, ripping the ball off the Quins player. The backs got the ball wide eventually leaving George Grieve wide 1 on 1 with his opposite number. He side stepped the last man before using his pace to get him back in close to the posts from out wide. Ed Phillips hit the post with his conversion attempt, but the score was now 12-0.

Quins came back strongly though. Banbury over threw a lineout 5 metres out from their own line and Michael Ojo was on hand to punish the mistake. Sneaking his way over from close range. Huw Diamond added the extras to narrow the gap to 12-7.

After a couple penalties Quins saw themselves deep in Banbury territory. Eventually the pressure paid off. Matt White looked like he’d been stopped just short, but he spun his way out of the tackle before reaching out to score just wide of the posts. Huw Diamond converted to give Quins the lead 12-14.

Banbury managed to take back the lead just before half time. Banbury had another rolling maul heading for the try line until Quins cynically pulled it down. Chris Davies was shown a yellow for Quins and Banbury kicked for the corner and another lineout. Pete Boulton gathered after the lineout and crashed his way over in the corner to score against his former team. Ed Phillips couldn’t convert from the side-line, but the Bulls were back in front 17-14.

Despite still being a man down to start the second half it was Quins who scored next. From a scrum Ed Yeates made a nice break down the right before off-loading to Tom Guthrie who sprinted his way over wide to the right. The two Quins substitutes combining for a lovely try. Huw Diamond couldn’t convert but Quins had the lead 17-19.

Banbury got back in front with a penalty try. Ian Isham looked like he was going to score from another rolling maul before Oliver Barlow cynically took the ball carrier out. Oliver Barlow saw yellow and Banbury kicked for the corner again. Banbury went for another rolling maul and again it was pulled down just short of the try line. This time the referee awarded a penalty try though. Under the news law teams are automatically awarded 7 points for a penalty try and no conversion is needed so Banbury were in front 24-19.

Quins were desperately looking for a way back into the game, trying to run the ball out deep from within their own 22 but it was Banbury who increased the lead. The Bulls turned the ball over before Quins were penalised for not rolling away. Ed Phillips increased the lead to at least two scores by nailing the penalty and making it 27-19.

Quins received another yellow card just before the final whistle. Paul de Lange seeing yellow for what looked like dissent. The final whistle came shortly after to bring an end to a feisty encounter.

Ian Isham was awarded Banbury’s Man of the Match. A true captain’s performance, carrying and defending brilliantly. The whole pack deserves special praise, the rolling maul was a huge weapon the entire game and had Banbury on the front foot for 80 minutes.

Speaking to Matt Goode after the game: “It was great to get the win, great to get 5 points again and get back to winning ways. It wasn’t our best performance though. I don’t think we played the patterns we wanted to. Oxford Harlequins didn’t let us play how we wanted to play. But overall getting 5 points and Quins leaving with nothing is exactly what we wanted.”

Talking about the forwards and the rolling maul: “The Forwards were great. We’ve been looking at what to do in wet weather and tricky conditions. The forwards have been playing exceptional recently, they were exceptional last week at Old Patesians and were great again today. They’re really coming into their own and it’s just what the doctor ordered.”

On the local derby and keeping their heads: “We knew they were going to be feisty, obviously Pete Boulton has come to us after being one of their stronger players last year and local derbies are always tough. We lost both games last year and that really spurred us on to make sure we got 5 points today.”

On next week’s game against Royal Wootton Bassett: “We’ve got things to work on, I don’t think we played the full 80 minutes, so we’ll be looking to tweak a few things. Wootton Bassett are a totally different kettle of fish. We’ll be analysing and seeing how we can improve but also how we’re going to win away. Last year we didn’t have a great performance there so we’re looking to put that right.”

Try Scorers: Ian Isham, George Grieve, Pete Boulton and a Penalty Try.

Banbury Line-up:

15. Tommy Gray (Sponsored by: Edd Frost & Daughters)
14. Freddie Cracknell (Sponsored by: F M & P Consultancy)
13. Jimmy Manley (Sponsored by: Godiva Insurance)
12. Matt Goode (Sponsored by: Hook Norton Crop Consultancy)
11. George Grieve
10. Sam Stoop (Sponsored by: H Colegrave & Son)
9. Ed Phillips (Sponsored by: P Montanaro – ITSM Consultancy)

1. Ken Key (Sponsored by: Lockwoods Ski and Outdoor)
2. Ian Isham (Captain) (Sponsored by: Fieldcraft)
3. Pete Boulton
4. Matt Brock
5. Sam Carr Archer
6. Giles Saar (Sponsored by: Jamie Briggs Removals & Storage)
7. Matthew Powell
8. Angus Johnson

Replacements:

16. Joe Winpenny
17. Kallum Dixey
18. Joe Mills (Sponsored by: DTC International)