Tile Hill Lane - Saturday 21st February 2015

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

Playing with the wind at their backs the Bulls quickly realised that their lowly opponents were to be no pushover as the home forwards were quick to demonstrate their dominance with early pressure yielding a penalty to open the scoring. Skipper, Eddie Phillips did level the scores with a penalty of his own, but the Old Coventrians, pinning Banbury deep in their own half forced another penalty which was converted.

Despite a brave defensive effort from the Bulls the home side finally managed to score the first try of the game when good ball retention and recycling created the space for a well-taken try in the corner. Trailing by eight points and having to face the wind in the second half the Bulls prospects looked to be flimsy especially as on the stroke of half time Josh Deegan crossed in the corner only for the try to be disallowed through a marginal forward pass.

The second half followed the pattern of the first with the Bulls scrummage under considerable pressure, but whilst having to live of scraps the Banbury backs showed that they were more than capable of creating opportunities running the ball at every opportunity and their ambition was rewarded when fullback, Joe Mills, fielded a kick near his own line and initiated a counter attack. Clever inter passing with Josh Deegan took play deep into the Old Coventrians half and with the supporting Mickey Fox providing the link the direction of play was switched giving Carl Daniels (pictured) a clear run to the line to finish of a magnificent length of the field movement. Phillips added the conversion to put the Bulls back within a point.

However the home forwards tightened the screw denying Banbury possession and extended their lead with a penalty. With Banbury still finding it difficult to get out of their own half and time running out the Bulls prospects looked bleak, but with the game deep into injury time the Bulls managed to get their hands on the ball and good handling gave Jed Boyle space on the wing.

Desperate cover from the Old Coventrians stopped the winger just short of the line, but the Bulls still applied the intense pressure on the home line forcing a succession of penalties and yellow card, but no penalty try. However a certain lack of composure with the line in sight proved to be the Bulls undoing as eventually they lost possession and with it the game.

Next week the Bulls face second place Old Laurentians and will be looking to obtain a greater share of possession to allow their pacy backs to perform on the front foot.