Wyken Croft, Coventry - Saturday 28th March 2015

Match reporting by Ed Phillips, action photos by Simon Grieve.

It was a bright and blustery day at Pinley RFC with the strong wind blowing directly down the pitch. Pinley started the match brightly playing with the wind and put Banbury under early pressure that the Bulls managed to repel and turn into some field position of their own, but Banbury could not get into their stride with a few half-opportunities failing to materialise into anything more, and several handling errors adding to the frustration.

Pinley took a foot-hold in the game utilising their stronger forward pack, particularly at the set piece. It was this platform that saw them score the games only try, making use of the blind side and putting the ball through their hands well and finishing in the corner by the club house. The extras were added from the touch line, with a wind assisted but still a fantastic conversion to make it 7-0.

This was a wakeup call for Banbury who’s defence did not let them down again in the game despite regular visits to the 22 from Pinley. Banbury went into half time 7-0 down, but at the time were confident that with the wind at their backs this could be turned around. The advice at half time was simple, Banbury needed to keep the ball for longer periods and start executing their game plan to build pressure.

With the wind at Banbury’s backs little changed, and if anything they saw less of the ball in the 2nd half. The kickers exchanged penalties to make the score 10-3 and Pinley saw the game out clinically keeping the ball for long periods of time.

To Banbury’s credit their defence help strong but this was not enough to change the result, and Banbury escaped with a losing bonus point to stay in 3rd place in the league going into the final home match against Spartans on the 11th April where they will want to finish the season on a high, getting back to playing the exciting expansive brand of rugby they have done on many occasions this season.