Sat 13 Apr 2019
The season ends with the teams familiar slow start, followed by plenty of committed catch up rugby. But loyal reporter Nick Brown still looks forward to next season, and a quick return
to South West 1
BANBURY 32 - 19 WITNEY
A mainly sunny afternoon but a bitterly cold East wind blowing down the pitch. Banbury 3rd from top, Witney 3rd from bottom! What hopes were there for another dramatic Witney win? Doubt whether any Witney supporter was expecting one as in the last few Banbury games, against Witney, Banbury had won by quite a large number of points. Also Landray was not on the team sheet as were four others from last week.
Witney kicked off from the West end and Banbury knocked on in Witney's 22. Witney collapsed the scrum and FH, Ed Phillips converted the Penalty. 3 - 0
(6 mins)Banbury's RW, Justin Parker intercepted on Witney's 10m and was tackled on the Line. Witney claimed the ball wasn't grounded but the Try was awarded. 8 - 0
(12 mins)Parker Try. 13 - 0
(14 mins)Parker Hat Trick. 18 - 0
(18 mins)Centre Sam Stoop, Try converted by Phillips. 25 - 0
(23 mins)No8, Ed Berridge, Try converted by Phillips. 32 - 0
(32 mins)Since the last score Witney had come into the game and had been in the Banbury Half a few times. They had four Penalty Lineouts close to Banbury's Try Line. All of which were followed by good driving mauls and Ruck, Pick and Drives, which looked good but no score.
(38 mins) Banbury RPD on Witney's Goal Line which was stopped but unfortunately a Banbury player was injured and had to be stretchered off.( 43mins)Another Witney Penalty Lineout which was mauled and moved in towards the Posts. It rumbled over the Line, Hooker, James Merriman.
, touching down and SH Arrun Lambourne converting. 32 - 7
Half Time
A very torrid first Quarter for the Witney team and supporters. During this time there were many first time missed tackles. Nearly every Dummy was bought (NEVER, NEVER, NEVER BUY A DUMMY). Some Lineouts were lost and the Tight scrums were being pushed back. However when Henry Lamb was brought on to Fly Half (Captain Matt Clarke moving to Centre) and Jamie Burke on to Prop, the rot was stopped. But not by these two alone.
Banbury kicked off the re-start. Lamb made a good break. Banbury mauled from a Lineout, released and a high kick was well fielded by LW, Jack Birks and passed to FB, Tom Gaffney, who ran the ball into Banbury's Half. Witney Penalty Lineout.
(6 mins)Banbury's Jacob Mills - Yellow Card for repeated Banbury offences. Witney Penalty Lineout and maul, then release. Then a number of phases; ruck and release and Banbury gave way under the pressure when Centre, Callum Godfrey, with one of his battering runs, broke through and touched down. Lambourne converting. 32 - 14
(13 mins)A short visit by Banbury into Witney's Half was stopped when Lamb broke from his 22 to take Witney back into Banbury's Half, where they remained for 10 minutes. Banbury could not get out of their Half because of Witney tackling and their own mistakes.
(23 mins)Banbury 2nd Row, Callum Horne; Yellow Card for a spear tackle.
(31 mins)Witney were still pinning Banbury in their Half, then Banbury managed to break down their left, close to touch and tackled got over the Line, but the Referee deemed "hed up". Banbury were awarded a Free Kick at the Scrum and quickly moved the ball right. Two R,P,Ds in front of the posts and then right again and for another Banbury error; knock on from a poor pass. Witney tight 8 who were now pushing Banbury's won the scrum and kicked to clear.
(39 mins)A Banbury maul, to the Line, from their Penalty Lineout - stopped. But the ball was released to the Backs and attacks were made on Witney's Line.
(43 mins)Witney broke out of their Half and Banbury offended , again. Witney then had a Penalty Lineout at 10m. They mauled and released the ball right, then left and then right again. Banbury's defence, moving left and right with the ball, had become confused and Captain Clarke did a couple of left jinks and scored to the left of the Posts. Conversion missed. 32 - 19
No Side
What a contrast! Witney were terrible for the first quarter. Every one expected a 60/80 point defeat in a one sided game.(So often, in this Season, Witney have allowed the opposition to build up a points hill and sometimes a mountain of points, in the first 20 minutes of the game, that was very difficult to climb and come down the victory side). Then for the rest of the game Banbury were made to look like an inferor side; making lots of Penalty offences, not able to out maul and in the 2nd Half playing in Witney's attacking in Witney territory for only 8 to 10 minutes. Anyway, it was great entertainment for the Witney supporters. Roll on September. Will Witney be playing Banbury, in SW1E in the 20/21 Season.
