Bulls show their mettle to grind out victory in derby clash

Bulls overcame rivals Oxford Harlequins by a single point in Saturday’s Wadworth 6X South West One East fixture at Horspath.

In the midst of an injury crisis, Banbury’s young stars stepped up to help their side win 11-12 in horrendous conditions on the 4G surface.

Head coach Matt Goode was forced into eight changes from the previous weekend’s squad, Jack Briggs, Nick Pratt, Joel Thomas and Jacob Mills all added to an already extensive injury list. So there were debuts for Charlie Mallock, Lewis Wheeler and Sam Wheeler, all graduates of the youth section.

The conditions were horrendous but it was a game of grit and desire in which both teams played their part. The three debutants showed why the second XV are undefeated this season, with great energy and passion.

Jacko Briggs has filled in at flanker this season but considering this was his first start in the position, he was exceptional. He ran hard, tackled harder and showed some great hands to get Bulls on the front foot.

Heavy rain and wind speed of over 50mph certainly wasn’t ideal conditions for attacking rugby.

Bulls started the game attacking into the wind, making kicking near impossible. Tom Eyston was yellow carded early on after a tip-tackle. Quins opened the scoring after Bulls were penalised for being offside, Dan Todd slotting the penalty for the home side. Todd extended the lead with a kick from close to the halfway line after Bulls were penalised for being offside again.

Keiran Fitzgibbon was also yellow carded for Bulls after some pushing and shoving off the ball, Banbury’s discipline was poor in the opening 20 minutes as Quins frustrated the visitors.

Despite kicking being near impossible, Bulls had done well making ground in the first half but every chance fell just short. Just before halftime birthday boy Tommy Gray released Joe Mills through a gap just inside the Banbury half. Mills weaved his way through the covering defenders before being taken down just inside the Quins 22. But Caleb Shepherd did brilliantly to clear out two defenders for Tom Burman to gather the ball and sprint over in the corner.

Bulls dominated the opening stages of the second half but the home defence in their own 22 was very good and the visitors couldn’t turn their possession and territory into points.

On the hour mark Bulls finally got the breakthrough they deserved. Gray threw a good pass to put Briggs through the Quins’ line, he off-loaded to Dan Brady who snuck his way down the left wing. Brady showed great skill to put the brakes on in the tight goal area before working his way inside to gain a crucial few extras metres closer to the posts for Phillips to nail a brilliant conversion.

Quins’ response was a strong one, Bulls knocked-on while trying to clear their lines from their own 22 and the home side took full advantage. Quins went through phase after phase through the forwards and twice were held up over the line.

Bulls defended brilliantly for at least five minutes before the pressure eventually told. Rhys Painton driving over from a metre out. Todd’s fairly simple conversion looked good but the ball held up cruelly in the wind before dropping a metre short.

Bulls controlled the final few minutes before Phillips tapped the ball out to bring up the full-time whistle.