Bodicote Park - Saturday 7th December 2013

Match reporting by Bob Mitchelmore.

In near perfect conditions a large crowd at Bodicote Park were treated to a feast of running rugby from both sides, and it was the Bulls, with scrum half Eddie Phillips ensuring the game was played at a high tempo throughout, who emerged with an emphatic victory.

There was little to choose between the two sides in the early exchanges with the Bulls backs looking dangerous, whilst the Old Leamingtonians pack held the upper hand, and it was from a scrum won against the put-in, one of many in the game, which allowed the visitors to establish an attacking position in the Banbury 22 which resulted in flanker, Thomas Heslop, crossing for the opening score. Angus Rose adding the conversion.

The Bulls replied when from a line-out in the opposition 22 good handling in the backs put winger, Josh Deegan over in the corner. On the stroke of half time the Bulls increased their lead when Eddie Phillips sold an outrageous dummy which opened up the Old Leamingtonians defence allowing James Heywood to stroll over, and with Phillips adding the extras the Bulls held a 12-7 half time lead.

Banbury, with their lively backs looking dangerous, dominated the early stages of the 2nd half, but a number of clear cut scoring opportunities were spurned with the final pass going astray. Eventually though a committed Old Leamingtonians defence was breached when flanker Seamus O'Dwyer, who was prominent throughout the game, crossed to extend the lead.

From the kick-off Banbury failed to clear their lines and pressure from the visitors resulted in a penalty converted by Rose. Shortly afterwards he added a second to leave the game in the balance going into the final quarter.

With both sides looking to attack at every opportunity it was the Bulls who came up with the decisive score when the Old Leamingtonians defence failed to gather a kick ahead from Alex Fogavini near their own line and Joe Mills nipped in for the try which Fogavini converted from wide out.

The closing stages saw the play switch from end to end and it was the Bulls who had the final say when Deegan crossed for his second try with Fogavini again converting to seal a well-deserved bonus point victory.

In what was arguably their best display of the season the Bulls will be looking to build on this performance to establish a place in the upper reaches of the league table.