Banbury Bulls travelled across to Leicester Vipers in a first v third league encounter. Only one point separated the two teams back in October and given their below par performance against BBOB, this was going to be a vital test of the Bulls credentials.

The depth of the Banbury squad was shown off once again with several changes made throughout the team. Darren de Bruyn was a welcome returnee in the back-row after, with Matt Brock moving from flanker to second row to replace the injured Marc Williams. Player-coach Grant Holmes replaced Eddie Philips at scrum-half and Jon Paton came in on the wing.

On arrival at Vipers there was some concern from the home side’s ground staff but the pitch looked in decent condition, especially when compared with the previous week’s mudbath. The match kicked off and the opening encounters were cagey as each side looked to get into their rhythm. Thrust and counter-thrust saw both sides probe for a breakthrough with little success. The Vipers inside centre making good use of his prodigious boot on several occasions, but any counter attacking was too often thwarted by mistakes.

Things remained at stalemate with only an unfortunate injury to the Vipers blind side changing the picture on the field until a Vipers attack was ended with a penalty and yellow card being shown to second row Nick Pratt for using his hands in the ruck. Vipers were glad for chance to open their account and the kick was duly put over for a 3-0 lead. Despite being a man down Banbury defended well, with a fine last-ditch tackle from full back Dave Taylor keeping the scores level. The forwards were frequently disrupting the Vipers set-piece, stealing one lineout five metres from their line to help relieve the pressure and get back to 15 men without conceding any further points.

In fact it was the Bulls who got onto the scoreboard next with centre Mike Smith on target from a penalty kick to level the score at 3-3. Banbury were then denied a golden chance to score when a return kick was fumbled by the Vipers full back, the chasing Bulls kept the pressure on and a fly hack over the line from Number 8 Simon Brand would have given Banbury the lead. However the referee failed to play the advantage and brought play back to the scene of the knock on for a scrum to Banbury.

The referee was involved in the next key moment of the half as the Vipers influential captain and second row was shown a yellow card as Banbury pushed forward in the home sides 22. With a man advantage Banbury looked to turn the screw with five minutes to half time.

With a strong scrum the visitors looked to drive the home pack back over their own line from a 5 metre scrum. With the ball well under control at the back of the scrum a try looked a certainty until a Vipers player dived on the ball a metre out from the line. Instead of awarding a clear penalty try the referee awarded a knock on against Banbury and the half came to an end with the scores tied at 3-3.

A fiery half time team talk from veteran second row Matt Brock reminded the Bulls players of what they could do and they started the second half totally rejuvenated. Taking the game to the home side saw Banbury make good ground and quick ruck ball had stretched the Vipers defence. Holmes saw the gap and, passing out of the tackle, he set up Brand for another try scoring opportunity. Again though the referee intervened and adjudged the pass to have been forward.

But Banbury, and Brand, were not to be denied and after further good work in both the tight and loose the Bulls were awarded a penalty five metres from the Vipers line. Brand took a quick tap and drove over the line to give Banbury the lead 8-3.

The home side seemed to be struggling with the pace and movement of the visitors. After several driving runs into the Vipers 22, Banbury had options to score either side of a ruck under the posts. With the ball being shipped right prop Andy Gilbert turned up in the line to feed the ball outside to his winger. He was then on hand to take the return pass and drive over from 80 metres (the ground gained on all props tries are multiplied by a factor of 10 as per IRB regulations).

With the conversion going wide Banbury now held a 10 point lead at 13-3 and the game was effectively sealed from the kick off. After safely taking the restart the Bulls forwards set up a ruck which the Vipers declined to defend on the blind side. Spotting the gap Brand charged through to set up another quick ruck inside the Vipers half, forcing the home side forwards to try and scramble back and defend. But skipper Sean Bannister was on hand and quickly took the ball on before feeding wing James Heywood to score under the posts. With an easy conversion hit by Smith, the score now stood at 20-3 to the Bulls.

Vipers however were not going to give up a home defeat easily and there followed a brief revival with Banbury being forced into a number of errors by the home side’s pressure. But resolute defending, including a textbook steal by de Bruyn and a fantastic tackle from Brock on the flying Vipers winger snuffed out any chances of a revival.

In fact it was Man of the Match Brock who was to be involved in the final score of the game when he broke through two would be tacklers wide out on the left before fixing the full-back and passing inside to the supporting Bannister who scored under the posts. Smith was on target with the conversion and the Bulls ran out worthy winners 27-3.

With title rivals Market Harborough having their match postponed, Bulls took now have a six point lead in the league and will look to keep up the good form of their second half performance as the entertain Northampton Old Scouts at Bodicote Park on Saturday, kick off 2:15pm.