Bodicote Park – Saturday 7th February 2015

Match reporting by Eddie Phillips, action photos and video clip by Simon Grieve.

Banbury kicked off and showed good discipline and much improved defence to earn a penalty 15 metres in from touch, the skipper Eddie Phillips stepped up and slotted home for a 3-0 lead.

Banbury made a habit of visiting the Old Ed’s 22 in the first half and seemed to come away with points from every visit. After several phases Old Ed’s gave away a penalty 5 metres out from the line, Phillips sensed an opportunity and in typical fashion took a tap penalty, the Nuneaton defence hauled Phillips down before they had retired the 10 metres required and the referee awarded a penalty try and sent the offending player to the bin. Phillips made no mistake from in front of the posts. 10-0.

Banbury charged up the field again with some quick phase play, this left the Old Ed’s defence scrambled, it seemed that Banbury could have scored both on the left and right flank, Josh Deegan (pictured) picked up from the base, stepped two defenders and spun past a third and stretched over the line to dot down his first of the afternoon. Phillips added the extras to make it 17-0.

Banbury’s next visit to the Ed’s 22 was greeted with another infringement and Phillips took the chance to extend the lead to 20-0.

Further Banbury pressure and territory led to more infringements by Old Ed’s. Repeated penalties led to another yellow for Old Ed’s, quickly followed by another, this time for an alleged stamp. Banbury made good use of the numerical advantage and dominated in the scrums, leading to a push over try from the pack with number 8 Sam Ridgeway the try scorer. Phillips made no mistake with the conversion and it was 27-0.

Banbury, still with a two man advantage on the field, secured the bonus point try through Josh Deegan’s second try of the game with the skipper again adding the 2 points from the conversation. 34-0.

Banbury made it 5 tries before the break with their best try of the game, with slick handling in the backs and a superb inside ball by Joe Mills to Josh Deegan running a great support line to complete his hat trick before the half was out. Banbury looked back to their best at this point with the young mobile side running the Old Ed’s all over the park in an organised fashion. Phillips added the extras with the last kick of the half to make the score 41-0 at the turn around.

After the break it was Banbury’s discipline that let them down. This gave a spirted Old Ed’s better field position and they camped in the Bulls 22, a turn over from Phillips led to a clearance kick being charged down and Ed’s crossing for a well-deserved try. 41-5.

The majority of the second half continued in this fashion, and Banbury’s battling defence turned to ill-discipline. They received back to back yellow cards, and it was Old Ed’s turn to receive a penalty try for a scrum collapsing under pressure near the line. Old Ed’s young fly half Craig Quick managed to miss the conversion under the posts to leave the score at 41-10.

Old Ed’s continued the pressure with the numerical advantage and scored again through their number 8. This time the extras were added. This gave Old Ed’s the hope of a 4 try bonus point for themselves but Banbury returned to a full complement and managed to get their hands on the ball again. This led to Jed Boyle scoring a great individual try and he was also on hand to finish off a great run by Bulls fly half John Fox. Phillips slotted the first of the two conversions but missed his final effort of the day on the final whistle leaving the Bulls winners 53-17.

It was an impressive win for a young and much changed Bulls side showing the greater strength in depth in the squad this year, which is down to the great work done in the second team by Mark Kirwin, John Fox and Richard Fox. Banbury fielded 15 home grown players in the 18 man squad with the 2 current Colts in the side – Tom Arnold and Harry Graham - not looking out of their depth either.

Banbury have a week off in their league campaign next Saturday but both the Lions 2nd XV and Wanderers 3rd XV are at home and will welcome your support.