With a saturated surface, high-winds and intermittent torrential rain, it would be easy to call Storm Dennis man of the match in this game, but both teams showed intent to play. Captain Borja Corrochano lost the toss and Banbury were forced to play into the wind. Smart kicking from the Gosford fly-half and hard running from a sizeable visiting pack put a great deal of pressure on the home side, which eventually proved too much and saw Wanderers in an unfamiliar position of being two tries down within the first ten minutes.

However, Banbury would not roll over and fought back in manful fashion. Man of the match for the second week running Max Bending was at the fore with some strong carriers that allowed the home pack to muscle their way down the pitch and eventually over the line with Russell White bagging the spoils.

Banbury were revitalised and looked in assured control for the rest of the game, going on to score seven tries in total. The scrum was rock solid, anchored by Perkins and White and shunted forward by lock pairing of Andrew and Jeyes. Hooker Ethan Gudge won his battle of wits with the wind at lineout time, and the back row of Corrochano, Oscar Gudge and Bending bullied their way about the pitch. Oscar Gudge won plaudits from the visiting support for his energetic and intelligent gameplay that allowed space for some of Banbury’s bigger carriers.

Scrum half Matt Bone worked tirelessly to direct play in conditions not conducive to his trademark long pass. He was joined by his familiar half-back partner Alex Morris, who bagged a try with a sumptuous line after some hard forward-play and converted six of his seven shots at goal.

Centres Green and Woods were stout in defence and bludgeoning in attack, with the potent back three of Copp, Brady and Burke behind them limited to a mainly reactive afternoon due to the lack of expansive gameplay.

In the second half, with the wind at their backs, Wanderers kept their foot on the pedal. Bending crossed for his second hat trick in as many weeks, and he was joined on the score sheet by Burke, with a show-and-go strike, and replacement second-row Dick Phillips who crashed over after some tricky stepping from young local talent Josh Reynolds. Banbury had the luxury of being able to replace tired legs across the pitch, with backs Harry Gillett, Sam Manning, Robbie Cooke and Harrison Woodall alongside forward Toby Chapman lending their skills to closing the game out. Special commendation goes to Tom Warren and Dan Tolley, who swapped jerseys and put in strong performances for Gosford in order to facilitate the game.

Gosford pulled back a late try to cut the lead, and can consider themselves unlucky to have headed home without taking a losing bonus point with them. The game finished 47-19 and all eyes now look forward to the 29th February where the Wanderers travel to Abingdon with a five-point victory the target on a day that occurs once every four years.

Gosford are currently raising money to support a player who sustained life-changing injuries during a league game in 2019 as he attempts to continue his passion for rugby in a wheelchair. All donations are gratefully received, and tickets to the fundraising dinner can be purchased from the website.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rhys-wheelchair