Banbury opened there 2012/13 season with their furthest away trip to take on Upton-on-Severn. Honours had been shared with a win at home apiece in the previous season.

The Bulls had a handful of new and returning players available to them, with flanker Will Brooks starting his first game in some six years. 

Banbury started the game well and were able to dominate the possession for the opening exchanges, but Upton had several exciting ball carriers and always looked dangerous when they got the ball.

The visitors could it however make use of their possession as a misfiring lineout led to good field position being wasted too often. This failure to keep Upton pinned in their own half soon came home to roost, when the Upton right wing beat his opposite number and sprinted into space. With the just full-back Joubert to beat, the winger had support on his inside and the try was scored.

This was to be the pattern for much of the half, with Upton guilty of numerous offences at the breakdown but Banbury unable to capitalise on the resulting field position.

Upton extended their lead with a second try midway through the first half, again using the pace of their wingers to good effect to break the line from deep and finish in style. Upton nearly scored a third try, with only an outstanding try-saving tackle from Joubert preventing the score.

The Bulls however responded well and from a scrum in the Upton 22, the Banbury backs executed a planned move that saw fly-half Jed Boyle dive over under the posts. Joubert was on target with the extras and Banbury now trailled by 12-7. Upton were then to extend their lead with a penalty goal, to give a half-time score of 15-7.

Banbuy knew that they had to start the second half well and fight there way back into the game, but instead things went badly very quickly. The Bulls organisation in defence seemed to melt away as Upton scored two quick tries within 5 minutes of the restart. Now facing a serious uphill struggle to get back into the match, it was vital that Banbury hit back. Exemplifying this desire, second-row Nick Kern looked to regain the ball from the restart, but instead a mid-air collision saw Kern and an Upton prop both down injured. Kern suffered a serious finger break and was whisked off to hospital, and our best wishes for a speedy recovery go out to him.

After this injury delay, the game continued in the same vein, with Upton making several dangerous breaks that the Banbury defences managed to hold off. Banbury continued to struggle to put the home side under any sustained periods of pressure and when Upton went over for their fifth try, the result was sealed.

Banbury, however were determined to have the last word and as the clock ticked down they were able to pin Upton back in their own 22. Earning a penalty ten metres out, Banbury tapped quickly and caught the Upton defence off-guard. This allowed Boyle to go over for his, and Banbury's, second try of the match. Joubert added the extras with the last kick of the match, giving a final score of Upton 32-14 Banbury.

For Banbury there were some areas of play where they performed well, but it will need an overall improvement in performance for the Bulls to notch up their first win. This they will look to do at Bodicote Park this coming Saturday when they entertain Shipston-on-Stour, kick-off 3pm.