Bodicote Park - Saturday 23rd November 2013

Match reporting by Bob Mitchelmore

Having been outplayed for much of the first half a stirring Bulls comeback which saw them take the lead mid-way through the second half, eventually ended in disappointment as a dominant Old Eds pack reasserted their authority and a converted try in the final play of the game robbed the Bulls of a richly deserved losing bonus point.

A penalty from Eddie Phillips gave Banbury an early lead but it was the Old Edwardians who preceded to dominate in all aspects of the game monopolising possession in both tight and loose. Banbury did not help their cause with some weak tackling and tries from flanker, Alex Cape, and a brace from centre Ashley Kalnins, two of which were converted by Tom Short saw the visitors establish what appeared to be a commanding 19-3 lead within the opening half hour. With the Bulls tightening their defence and encouraged by a counter attack that saw winger Jed Boyle tackled just short of the line they managed to reduce the deficit at half time to ten points thanks to two Phillips penalties.

With the Old Edwardians losing their flanker David Melville to a yellow card Banbury started the second half in the ascendancy and their pressure was eventually rewarded when fullback Joe Mills (pictured) crossed near the posts to give Phillips an easy conversion. However the Bulls failed to collect the restart, conceding a penalty duly converted by Short. With the Banbury scrum under pressure the lively Bulls backs had to make the best use of the possession that came their way and from a clever grubber kick from Alex Fogavini Carl Daniels was able to gather to cross for a try which, with Phillips' conversion gave Banbury an unlikely lead.

This lead was short-lived however as the Old Edwarians pack dominated the set pieces and from a scrum deep in the home 22 the Bulls were shoved of their own ball and conceded a penalty try which saw the visitors move to a six point lead. Despite being starved of possession Banbury were still not finished and with Josh Deegan gathering his own kick ahead he found Foigavini on his inside and the fly half outpaced the cover defence to score. Sadly the conversion, which would have regained the lead for the Bulls with little time left on the clock, drifted wide, and cruelly with the last play of the game Old Edwadians second row forward, Scott Parry, forced his way over with Short's difficult conversion denying the Bulls a losing bonus point.

Next week the Bulls travel to Old Coventrians looking to get their season back on track after two successive defeats and will be hoping that Nick Pratt will be back from injury to bolster the pack which struggled badly in the set pieces.