Banbury Bulls welcomed Lutterworth to Bodicote Park on Saturday keen to make amends for their first loss of the season in the previous week’s cup match. Banbury were aware that to continue their run at the top of the league table they needed a much improved performance against a visiting team that had won the corresponding fixture last season.

Banbury had a few personnel and positional changes with flanker Nick Clarke replacing club captain Sean Bannister, young colt Joe Mills returning at fly-half and lock Nick Kern making the step up from the seconds.

The game kicked off in bright sunshine and conditions were excellent and the home team found themselves under some initial pressure from the big Lutterworth pack. However some stalwart defence saw the visitors unable to make any real headway and quick turnover ball and an excellent kick and chase ahead saw Andy Collett on hand to open the scoring. Pete Papenfus knocking over the extras to give the home team a 7-0 lead.

Further pressure and some impressive running from both backs and forwards took the Bulls into the Lutterworth 22 where the visitors conceded a penalty for hands in the ruck. Papenfus was again on target with the boot and Banbury led 10-0. Collett was unfortunate not to double his tally mid-way through the first half when some excellent handling along the Bulls back line put him in space on the wing, however he was adjudged to have just put a foot onto the touchline and his score was disallowed. However the continual pressure again led to Lutterworth giving away another kickable penalty and Papenfus was on target yet again to give the home side a 13-0 lead.

Lutterworth continued to defend well and made use of their well-organised mauling on a number of occasions but too often these were set up around the half-way line and so any ground made did not put the Bulls line under pressure. It was Banbury who stretched their lead with a try from scrum-half Eddie Phillips again converted by Papenfus and Banbury now had a comfortable 20-0 lead.

With the Banbury defence holding firm and often gaining turnover ball the game was heading to half-time with not further scoring looking likely. It was then that the Banbury three-quarter line showed their class. After the forwards won a turnover around halfway the ball was swiftly shipped along the backline where replacement centre, on for injured Pete Flemming, showed excellent pace and strength to go over in the corner. Papenfus was for once off target with the difficult conversion but Banbury went in at half-time with a useful 25-0 lead.

Anxious not to throw away a winning position against a team they knew would finish strongly Banbury upped the tempo early on and produced an excellent second-half that blew the visitors away.

Tries came at regular intervals throughout the half with Phillips scoring two more tries to complete his hat-trick, winger Jed Boyle bagging two alongside a second for fellow wing Andy Collett, and the forwards getting in on the act with scores by flanker Darren de Bruyn, prop Andy Gilbert and second-row Matt Brock. Papenfus kicked all the conversions for a perfect second-half and taking his personal tally to 26 points for the game.

By the final whistle the Bulls had produced a sterling performance in all aspects of the game and had won a comprehensive victory, 81-0 against a Lutterworth side that had only conceded 82 points in all their previous league matches this season.

Banbury now need to maintain this level of performance as they head off to face second-place Market Harborough in their next league match on Saturday, kick-off 2:15pm.