Banbury travelled to Bedworth on Saturday last to finally fulfill their twice-postponed league fixture. Banbury were coming into the game on the back of three straight league wins and had beaten Bedworth at Bodicote Park earlier in the season, but they knew that this would be a tough game. On a smaller-than-average pitch, the Bulls forwards would be given a stern examination by the strong Bedworth pack and they would need to respond to give Banbury a chance in this game.

The Banbury backline was relatively settled with just Andrew Mawle taking the place of Andrew Collett on the wing, but the Bulls forwards had a changed look about it, with Seamus O'Dwyer, Nick Kern, James Burge, and Lee Tustin all coming into the starting pack.

Whether it was due to the numerous changes in the pack or simply the team not being switched on, Banbury quickly found themselves under the cosh. The powerful Bedworth forward runners were given space to get beyond the gainline on several occasions and the visitors were forced to concede a number of penalties. Accurate line kicking by the Bedworth fly-half gave the home side a lineout just yards from the Banbury tryline. A simple catch-and-drive was initially halted by the Bulls pack, but the second drive was too strong and after just five minutes, the home side took the lead. The conversion was good and the score was 7-0 to Bedworth.

Worse was to follow for the visitors as Bedworth continued with these fruitful tactics. Penalties conceded by Banbury gave the home side excellent field position once again, and some poor tackling close to the try-line allowed the Bedworth Number 8 to drive over and score. The conversion was wide but Bedworth now led 12-0 and Banbury needed to up their game or be in for a long afternoon.

And up their game they did. Finally getting some possession, the Banbury backs looked threatening and the visitors started to pull the larger Bedworth pack around the park. Midway through the first half, pressure from a good kick into the Bedworth 22 gave the Bulls an excellent attacking scrum. The Banbury scrum was holding its own and even putting pressure on the Bedworth put-ins, and a change in the pack, with Ernie Ell replacing the injured Nick Kern, did not affect this dominance. A strong, stable scrum gave the Banbury backs the platform they needed to run a superb training ground move. Winger Jed Boyle entered the line at pace and scythed through the defence without being touched to score under the posts. Captain Ed Phillips was on target with the conversion and Banbury were back in the game at 12-7.

Whilst increasingly coming back into the game, the Bulls were however still prone to costly lapses and when another penalty was awarded to Bedworth, the home side took the opportunity to kick the points and stretch their lead to 15-7.

Banbury continued to employ a good tactical game, exemplified by full-back Dave Taylor's intelligent kicking that repeatedly pinned Bedworth back in their own half. One such kick led to Banbury's next score, as the covering defence inadvisably allowed Taylor's kick to bounce in their 22. Ed Phillips was first to react and hacked the ball towards the Bedworth tryline, and although Phillips himself was tackled without the ball, Taylor had followed up his kick well and dived onto the loose ball and onto the tryline to score. Phillips was on target with the conversion again and Banbury were just one point behind at 15-14. No further scores were recorded before the half-time whistle went, but the Bulls realised that this game was there for the taking.

Banbury started the second half as they'd ended the first one, with their tails up and putting Bedworth under pressure. Whilst Bedworth were able to keep winning lineout possession, it was too often in their own half, too far out for their well-worked mauls to have an effect. And with all the play being inside the Bedworth half, it was only a matter of time before the pressure told and the home side conceded several kickable penalties. Phillips was off target with one kick, but his second attempt gave Banbury the lead at 15-17, a lead that they would not relinquish.

Bedworth's rare forays into the Banbury half were swiftly dealt with and the backs' excellent kicking meant the home side consistently needed to play from deep. Banbury's third try came from one such attempt as Bedworth ball was turned over in midfield, just outside the Bedworth 22. Phillips got his hands on the turnover ball and jinked his way towards the line. It seemed, however, that the scramble defence would stop him, until the Bedworth chaser unfortunately pulled his hamstring, leaving Phillips in space with just one man to beat. Driving through the would-be tackler Phillips dotted down and then successfully converted his own try and Banbury were 15-24 to the good.

Banbury continued to hunt for that important fourth try and bonus point, but despite some truly destructive scrummaging, led by Man of the Match Lee Tustin, they could not quite manage it. The final whistle went and Banbury were deserved winners. Despite their slow start, the Bulls went on to dominate much of the game and a great team effort was well-rewarded as they recorded their fourth win in a row.

Banbury will need to start their game next week in much more convincing fashion as they travel to third placed Kidderminster, looking to continue their winning run.