Banbury Head Coach, Matt Goode was forced in to 8 changes from the previous weekends squad. Jack Briggs (Briggo), Nick Pratt, Joel Thomas and Jacob Mills all added to an already extended injury list. There were debuts for Charlie Mallock, Lewis Wheeler and Sam Wheeler. All graduates of the Banbury youth section. Jack Briggs (Jacko) started at flanker instead of his usual inside centre position.

The weather forecast for the game looked terrible and any hopes that the Met. Office had got it wrong were quickly dashed upon arrival at Horspath Road. Heavy rain and wind speed of over 50mph certainly wasn’t ideal conditions for attacking rugby. A video clip of Ed Phillips practicing his kicks in the warmup even made it on to the BBC Storm Dennis coverage and is well worth a watch on our Twitter or Facebook pages if you haven’t already seen it.

Banbury started the game attacking into the wind, making kicking near impossible for the Bulls. Tom Eyston was yellow carded early on after a tip tackle. The young Bulls perhaps a little too pumped up coming out the changing rooms.

Quins opened the scoring after Banbury were penalised for being offside. Dan Todd slotting the penalty for the home side. Quins 3 Banbury 0.

Dan Todd extended the lead with a kick from close to the halfway line after Banbury were penalised for being offside again. Todd taking full advantage of the wind behind him to make it 6-0 with a very well taken kick.

Keiran Fitzgibbon was also yellow carded for Banbury after a bit of pushing and shoving off the ball. Soft from the Bulls whose discipline was poor in the opening 20 as Quins looked to wind up and frustrate Banbury.

Despite kicking being near impossible the Bulls had done well making ground in the first half but every chance fell just short. Just before half time the Bulls got the try their play deserved. The birthday boy, Tommy Gray, released Joe Mills through a gap just inside the Banbury half. Mills weaved his way through the covering defenders before being taken down just inside the Quins 22. Caleb Shepherd did brilliantly to clear out two Quins defenders before Tom Burman gathered the ball and sprinted his way over in the corner. Ed Phillips so nearly added what looked like an impossible conversion, but the ball swung just wide. Quins 6 Banbury 5.

The half time whistle followed shortly after. The first time I’ve seen not just all the players run in at half time but all the supporters as well!
Banbury dominated the opening stages of the second half but the Quins defence in their own 22 was very good and the Bulls couldn’t get the points their possession and territory deserved. When a 3 on 1 was knocked on you worried it might not be Banbury’s day.

Around the 60-minute mark the Bulls finally got the breakthrough they deserved. Tommy Gray threw a lovely pass to put Jack Briggs through the Quins line before he offloaded to Dan Brady who snuck his way down the left wing. Brady showed great skill to stop himself in the small in goal area before working his way inside for what would be a crucial few extras metres closer to the posts. Considering the conditions Ed Phillips nailed a brilliant conversion to make it 6-12.

Quins response was a strong one. Banbury knocked on while trying to clear their lines from their own 22 and the home side took full advantage. Quins went through phase after phase through the forwards and twice were held up over the line. Banbury defended brilliantly for at least 5 minutes, but the pressure eventually told. Rhys Painton driving over from a metre out. Dan Todd’s fairly simple conversion looked good off the tee, but Storm Dennis had other ideas and the ball held up cruelly in the wind before dropping a metre short. Quins 11 Banbury 12.

Banbury controlled the final few minutes before Ed Phillips tapped the ball out to bring up the full-time whistle. A fantastic, gritty performance from Banbury. The conditions were horrendous. The injury list extensive but it was a game of grit and desire in which both teams played their part. The 3 debutants were fantastic. A local derby with the conditions as they were is as difficult as it gets for your first appearance for the Bulls, but they showed why the 2nd XV are undefeated this year with great energy and passion. Jack Briggs was selected as Banbury’s man of the match. Jacko has always looked good when he’s filled in at flanker this season but considering this was his first start in the position, he was exceptional. He ran hard, tackled harder and showed some great hands to get the Bulls on the front foot.

Next week we get to do it all again. Banbury take on Oxford Harlequins in the County Cup Semi-Final. It’s going to close, entertaining, hopefully not as wet and windy and we need as much support as possible to help Banbury reach the final.

Speaking to Head Coach, Matt Goode, after the game:

11-12, conditions obviously played a huge part today, but you must be absolutely buzzing after that result?
“Buzzing is a brilliant word to describe how we’re feeling right now. I thought we were brilliant. The forwards really stepped up today against a solid Quins pack. We managed the game well and played the conditions well. Both teams have a lot of passion and that’s what it was all about today. Obviously, we just snuck it, there wasn’t much to it at all. I thought both teams played some incredible rugby in some really harsh conditions. If we’d lost by a point, I’d still have been immensely proud of the boys.”

8 changes from last weekend and 3 debuts isn’t ideal by any standard but everyone who stepped in were top class weren’t they?
“All three of the new lads have been performing for the 2’s but before today just haven’t had that chance. We’ve had a lot of concussions, knee injuries, injuries in general but the boys who came in were outstanding. I challenged them to make the shirt theirs and some have certainly done that. They’re all so young I can’t wait to see what they do in the next couple months and years to come.”

Quick mention on today’s Man of the Match, Jack Briggs, he’s usually a centre but he looks a natural at flanker. He really stepped up today didn’t he?
“I think his style of rugby suits both positions. He’s a talented boy. He really got the young lads up for the game and kept everyone going throughout the game as well. He was outstanding. He was up and in peoples faces all game. His sleight of hand set up Brady’s try as well. It’s easy to forget how young he is and he’s still improving, but today he was the best player on that pitch.”

You’ve got the bizarre situation of Oxford Harlequins again next weekend. This time in the County Cup Semi Final. It’s obviously going to be a close game. How crucial could that home support be in this one?
“It’ll be huge. It always is. We had some brilliant support here today. The amount that made the trip considering the conditions was amazing. We’ve got a young squad who I know will be up for it but that extra 16th man will be amazing. We’ll make a couple changes. We’ve got a few boys who are itching to get back from injury and get some game time. I can’t wait, who doesn’t look forward to a Banbury vs Quins clash?”

Point Scorers:
Tries: Tom Burman, Dan Brady
Conversions: Ed Phillips (1)

15. Joe Mills (Sponsored by: DTC International) *
14. Tom Burman *
13. Caleb Shephard *
12. Duncan Leese (Sponsored by Wednesday Strollers)
11. Dan Brady (Sponsored by: Allsafe Scaffolding) *
10. Tommy Gray (Sponsored by: Edd Frost & Daughters) *
9. Ed Phillips (Sponsored by: P Montanaro – ITSM Consultancy) *

1. James Leonardi (Sponsored by: Tim Varney) *
2. Chris Davies (Sponsored by: GDC Rail & Civils)
3. Tom Eyston
4. Ian Isham (Captain) (Sponsored by: William Green Architects) *
5. Lewis Wheeler *
6. Charlie Mallock *
7. Jack Briggs (Sponsored by: Parkinsons Master Thatchers) *
8. Keiran Fitzgibbon (Sponsored by: Heaven & Stubbs) *

Replacements:
16. Ken Key (Sponsored by: Lockwoods Ski and Outdoor)
17. Sam Wheeler *
18. Alex Caviezel Cox (Sponsored by: Jamie Briggs Removals & Storage) *

* Graduate of the Banbury Youth Section