With the visitors joint-top of the league, and the home side one off the bottom, this was never going to be an easy afternoon for the Bulls. A heavy pitch after the previous days deluge probably slowed proceedings a tad, although otherwise the conditions were near perfect for the 2.15pm start.

From their own kick off Banbury survived the early pressures of two defensive scrums on their own 5m line and took the game back into the Kenilworth half. However, Banbury were soon defending again after a Kenilworth 22m drop-out and succumbed to the number of attackers out wide from a ruck on their 22m. Kenilworth’s winger Simon Tyler went over in the right hand corner at the Banbury end and Captain Jonny Cresswell added the extra points for a lead of 0-7 on the 10 minute mark.

From the restart Banbury attacked again but went no further than Kenilworth’s 22m. Looking very dangerous in open play Kenilworth won a penalty 48m out from the posts in the 19th minute and full-back Tom Kendall’s ambitious kick fell short into the hands of Banbury Captain Ed Phillips. Phillips cleared his lines with a kick to touch but was hit late by Kenilworth’s open-side flanker Steve Todd who earned himself a 10 minute break as Mr Heath wielded the yellow card.

Now with a numbers advantage Banbury pressed on. A quick break by Phillips from a Banbury scrum on the Kenilworth 22m was offloaded beautifully to full-back Andrew Joubert who took it on to score wide out right at the Adderbury end. Joubert narrowly failed to convert his own try and the score stood at 5-7 after 24 minutes.

With the Bulls now very much in the game they came straight back at Kenilworth after the restart and were unlucky to have a Phillips offload judged forward. However, with Kenilworth caught offside at a ruck in the 28th minute Joubert had another shot at goal but was again just wide. Banbury continued to attack but then came a turning point in the game as Tyler for Kenilworth intercepted deep in his own half, passing to scrum-half Gareth Renowden who scored the visitor’s second try on the 31st minute mark. Cresswell added his second conversion for a 5-14 lead.

From the restart there was a groan of déjà vu as Kenilworth intercepted again, however the interloper was judged off-side and Banbury earned another shot at goal. Joubert got his kick between the posts but unfortunately below the bar so the score remained 5-14 on the 34th minute.

Banbury responded well with a period of impressive pick-and-go drives from the forwards, particularly the interchanges between Simon Brand and Rory Dymond. Unfortunately a couple of stoppages for injuries to Banbury players Will Brooks and James Burge broke up their attacking flow somewhat.

Now the momentum swung back to Kenilworth and they tried two driving mauls from line-outs won on the Banbury 5m line. The first was skilfully turned-over and fly-half Jed Boyle cleared his lines. Banbury also stopped the second and won a scrum as it was held up just on the half-time whistle. With periods of solid defensive tackling and one try in the bag the Bulls had reason to be optimistic at half time, particularly given the relative league positions of the two sides.

Kenilworth kicked to start the second-half and the visitors immediately won a scrum from Banbury’s knock-on. With the ball petulantly kicked away by Banbury they were immediately chastened by a penalty and by being marched back 10m for good measure. This put Kenilworth’s Cresswell within range and he duly slotted his kick to make the score 5-17 within seconds of the restart – a hard lesson learned.

The scrappy restart continued as Banbury earned their own penalty attempt some 40m out. Joubert’s attempt was long and high but just wide. The game was now showing signs of opening up a bit as Banbury looked to exploit the spaces out wide. However some snatched passing and fumbled ball meant the opportunities weren’t capitalised on.

Now attacking the Adderbury end Kenilworth started to exert their own pressure. Winning a penalty in the 6th minute from a Banbury player not releasing after a tackle, Kenilworth opted to kick for touch in the right-hand corner. Driving mauls from a line-out are obviously popular in Kenilwoth and again they deployed the tactic. Banbury succeeded in holding it up over the line so Kenilworth earned a 5m scrum. The Kenilworth number eight Bobby Thompson picked-up from the back of the scrum, offloaded to winger Jimmy Middleton who was skilfully driven into touch by a determined Banbury defence.

Kenilworth turned-over Banbury’s line-out, drove the maul forward again and once more Banbury were ready and waiting to hold it up. The resultant Kenilworth scrum collapsed and the next put-in was awarded to Banbury with Phillips and Boyle duly clearing their lines.
Another injury stoppage in the 13th minute resulted in a Kenilworth player being replaced and a further period of disjointed play.

Kenilworth’s fly-half Harry O’Brien was unlucky to knock-on as he scooped up a low ball as he was clean-away through the Banbury line. Banbury’s defence was soon called on again as Kenilworth grubber-kicked down the far wing only for Banbury’s Carl Daniels to skilfully pick up and kick to touch.

From the 20th minute onwards it became easier to comprehend Kenilworth’s league position. Their play became more linked-up and they exploited the ever growing spaces on the Bodicote Park pitch. Despite Banbury’s brave defence Kenilworth earned a penalty after a sequence of crash-balls by the forwards, a mere 15 m out from the Banbury line. Kenilworth’s Thompson took the tap penalty catching Banbury knapping and offloaded to prop Ross Lowthian who went over for the visitor’s third try. Cresswell converted again for a 5-24 lead.

Banbury replacement prop Russell White came on for Nick Pratt in the 28th minute but the home side were now looking tired. Kenilworth sensed the kill and started spraying the ball wide and far. On the 34th minute Cresswell set off on a run from half-way, offloaded in tight formation to replacement Alex Selby who went over between the posts for Kenilworth’s fourth, and league bonus point-earning, try. Full-back Tom Kendall converted the afternoon’s easiest goal attempt and made the score 5-31 to the visitors.

Banbury won a penalty form the restart but a missed kick for touch meant the Bulls were immediately on the back foot and in their own 22m. Brand picked up at the back of a 5m defensive scrum and Phillips kicked clear. Unfortunately the kick went into Kenilworth hands and centre Tak Norton scored in the far corner. Kendall missed the conversion and the full time whistle heralded a 5-36 victory for Kenilworth.

Despite the score-line there were several positives for coach James Kerr to take away. For at least sixty minutes the Bulls defensive tackling looked very credible, a big improvement on the early season form. Also the forwards now look a much more effective unit, if only they could have reproduced the tight interplay seen in the Oxford University Greyhounds game today. With a little more composure in attack then the side should have enough to show the teams around them in the league that they intend to stay up for another season.