Banbury travelled into Leicestershire to take on Aylestone St James and had to come from behind more than once to register their first league win of the season.

The Bulls took to the field with a team much changed from their opening league draw with Towcestrians, with young fly-half Joe Mills running the backs. With a hard pitch and little wind, the conditions were perfect for expansive rugby but the Banbury’s fluid style was matched by spirited tackling and strong counter-running by a Jimmies side also looking to record their first league win.

Playing with the slight breeze and slope advantages, Jimmies clever kicking game kept Banbury pinned in their own half for much of the opening period. Several attempts to run the ball clear up into Jimmies territory were thwarted by some good tackling, notably from the Jimmies wings and full-back, or else by poor passing and handling by the Bulls. Too often the clean possession from the solid lineout and scrummaging was surrendered and the increasing pressure on the Bulls in their own half soon led to a penalty being awarded to Jimmies. The kick was duly slotted and Jimmies were up 3-0.

Banbury responded in a lively fashion and some concerted attacking play was rewarded with a penalty, but the usually reliable Mike Smith was off target and the score remained 3-0 in Jimmies favour. Continuing with their territorial kicking game was to prove even more fruitful when a Banbury scrum inside their own 22 was shipped wide to full-back Pete Flemming whose clearance kick was charged down by the Jimmies winger. With the bounce favouring the home side, the winger was quick to pick up the ball and scamper over for the game’s opening try, but a missed conversion kept the score to 8-0.

With the half drawing to a close, Banbury needed to respond and get some points on the board which they duly did. A well-formed driving maul from a lineout on the Jimmies 22 saw the opposition prop penalised for entering from the side and Smith was on target with his second attempt of the game. With the whistle blowing straight after the successful penalty the half-time score saw Banbury still in touch at 8-3.

With the change of ends came an immediate change in fortune for the Bulls who had seen the effect of keeping the opposition pinned in their own half through clever kicking. With Jimmies now unable to clear their lines, the Bulls turned up the pressure and another clean lineout catch and drive saw the Jimmies line threatened for the first time in the match. Just yards short, it took the physical power of prop Andy Gilbert to force his way over for Banbury to level the scores at 8-8. Smith was again off target with the conversion attempt.

The second-half continued in the same vein, with Banbury exerting pressure, but unable to find the scoring pass through a combination of wrong options and poor skills. However another Jimmies indiscretion saw them take the lead 11-8 through another Smith penalty goal. Another notable event of the second half saw substitute Pete Papenfus make his return to Banbury colours after 18 months out with injury.

But Aylestone were by no means down and out. With just 10 minutes of the game remaining their strong running backs were soon given the chance to attack after a wayward clearance kick gave them space to attack from deep. Sweeping down one wing, the Banbury defence was stretched to the point of breaking and a last-minute tackle by Papenfus saw their winger put into touch as he dotted the ball down in the corner. With the home touch-judge unsighted, the referee gave the benefit of the doubt to the Jimmies and they regained the lead 13-11. With the score right in the corner, the conversion was always a tough ask and the Jimmies kick didn’t have the length to add the extras.

The Bulls now needed to show what they were made of to come away with the points. Finally getting some rhythm into their game, Banbury again forced their way down into the Jimmies 22 and with just 6 minutes of time remaining they were awarded a penalty for offside. Smith stepped up and coolly gave the Bulls back a one-point lead, 14-13.

With time running out for the Jimmies and Banbury’s defence holding firm, the visitors were able to see the clock down, despite being reduced to 14 men, with replacement lock Marc Williams being sin-binned for an offence at the breakdown. Finally with the last play of the game signalled by the referee and Banbury once again pressuring the Jimmies line, another penalty offence from the home side gave Smith the chance to kill the game off and give Banbury victory 17-13.

Whilst Banbury clearly have much still to work on, forwards coach Ian Heywood was pleased with the way his side stuck to their task to come from behind and register a useful away victory against a Jimmies side that will ask several teams some very tough questions this season.

Banbury next play Leicester Vipers at Bodicote Park on Saturday 3rd October, kick-off 3pm.