Moorefields - Saturday 10th January 2015

Match reporting by Bob Mitchelmore, action photos by Simon Grieve.

Despite dominating both possession and territory a mixture of handling errors, poor decision making and a solid Leamington defence left the Bulls returning home empty handed.

In gusty conditions neither side could find any fluency and the opening quarter proved to be a stalemate with Banbury comfortable playing against the wind and Leamington unable to mount any meaningful attacks.

A bad day for the Bulls was summed up when a promising backs movement broke down with a loose pass being intercepted by Leamington centre, Jim Robinson, who cantered to the line unopposed from halfway, adding the conversion himself.

Worse was to follow for the Bulls as from the kick-off a missed tackle opened up their defence and for perhaps the only time in the game slick handling and passing put Jamie Harrison in for the try giving Leamington a twelve point advantage.

With no further scores in the first half the Bulls, with the wind at their backs, would have fancied their chances, but despite the play being exclusively in the Leamington half a succession of errors allowed Leamington to keep their line intact.

Eddie Phillips did get the Bulls on the scoreboard with a penalty, but any momentum was lost when a serious injury to a Leamington player led to the final fifteen minutes being played on an adjacent pitch and whilst Banbury continued to dominate proceedings they never looked likely to score.

This loss leaves the Bulls promotion hopes hanging by a thread and a win next week against fifth placed Malvern, who beat the Bulls earlier in the season, will be vital, whilst they must hope that leaders, Old Laurentians and Newbold slip-up.