Banbury Bulls made the sort trip north to take on local rivals Leamington in their latest Midlands 2 West (South) fixture. With both sides languishing near the bottom of the table, a win for either team would hopefully kick start their season. Banbury, saw a number of changes with experienced lock Matt Brock and full-back Ryan Woodward coming into the starting line-up.

The match kicked off in cold and somewhat blustery conditions and quickly settled into a rhythym around the centre of the park, with Banbury looking to their big forward runners to make headway against the solid Leamington defensive line. Leamington on the other hand were keen to use the pace, strength and guile of their three-quarters to move the ball on. Banbury had the better of the opening minutes but were unable to turn pressure in the Leamington 22 into points and the first score was to come from good defensive rather than attacking work.

With Leamington looking to get the ball wide along their backs on the halfway line, Banbury's defence pushed up. Feeling the pressure coming on, the Leamington fly-half spilled the ball and his opposite number, Jed Boyle was first to react. Hacking on, he was able to gather the loose ball and eaily won the foot race to the line, scoring near the posts. Skipper Eddie Phillips was on target with the extras and Banbury were 7 points up.

Leamington responded quickly with a number of quick drives and breaks into the Banbury half. The Bulls were able to stem the tide, but were soon penalised for an offence at the ruck which was duly kicked to get Leamington onto the scoreboard, 3-7. The home side were to extend their lead shortly afterwards. When a promising half break by Boyle and his supporting forwards broke down, Leamington were quick to seize on the lose ball. They quickly got the ball wide to the oncoming full-back, Holland, who raced into the Bulls 22, scoring in the corner. The conversion was wide, but Banbury were now behind 8-7.

Banbury soon found themselves facing the ire of the referee who continually found fault with the visitors, culminating in a yellow-carde for winger Andrew Collett follwoing a ruck offence. Defending deep inside their own 22, the extra man proved crucial as the ball was recycled and shipped wide for Leamington skipper Raby to score wide out on the right. Again the conversion was missed, and at 13-7 Banbury were still in the game.

But the referee once again intervened and put Banbury on the back foot when he produced a second yellow card. This time it was flanker Will Brooks who got a ten minute rest for an early tackle, despite the offence occuring deep in the Leamington half. Now two men down, Banbury needed to hold out for the remainder of the half and regroup, which they successfully did.

Banbury needed to step up several gears in the second half if they were to wrestle this fixture back from the home side, but once again poor tackling from the Bulls in the second half allowed Leamington to pin the visitors deep in their own half. And it was to be this lacklustre defence that would allow Leamington to take the game away from Banbury, as first flanker Birks and then centre Grant burst through would-be tacklers to score two tries, with one conversion to take the score to 25-7.

Banbury did manage to create some opportunities, but they were few and far between. A penalty goal attempt was pushed wide by Phillips, but he was able to have the last word in the game following the award of a penalty try to Banbury after an early tackle on Boyle who was looking to win a foot race to a ball kicked deep in the home side's 22.

Banbury now return to Bodicote Park to face in-form Kidderminster Carolians in what will be a tough test of their character.