Oxon U14s KO Cup Final – Bicester 20 v Banbury 15
Four in a Row for Bicester
Bicester U14 recorded their fourth consecutive Oxfordshire title, just edging Banbury U14 at Stratfield Brake on Sunday. Congratulations must go to both teams who put on a great display of rugby for a sizeable crowd.
Both teams started the game nervously, with a knock on by Banbury from the kick off, under pressure from Ollie Cassidy and Tom Burrell allowing Bicester to spend the first five minutes of the game in the Banbury half. Bicester, playing into the wind dominated territory in the opening exchanges, but it was the Banbury forwards who had the edge in both loose and tight phases and they held Bicester.
Bicester broke the deadlock when the ball was moved quickly away from a scrum on halfway, centre Henry Gayler broke the line and outpaced the Banbury defence to score.
Banbury looked sharp from the resulting kick off and a period of continued pressure saw Bicester infringe, going off their feet in the ruck, the Banbury Kicker, with the wind at his back calmly slotted to make it 5 – 3.
Bicester finally began to exert some control in the forwards and following a strange kick, luckily fielded by Dan Rowland Bicester once more saw themselves in the Banbury Half. A subsequent scrum to Banbury was pinched against the head by James Nellis, quick reactions from the half backs saw the ball spread wide, a half break by Henry was taken on by James Grosvenor and fed to Dan who showed his speed down the left wing, rounded the defence and finished under the posts. Again the simple conversion was missed 10 – 3.
The second half started much as the first half, this time Bicester making errors at the restart, allowing Banbury to put on the pressure. An exciting period of play saw both sides playing great rugby, nullified by great defence by their opponents. Eventually the Banbury pressure told, and from a series of rolling mauls, they were eventually awarded a try in the left hand corner 10 – 8.
Once again Bicester took control from the restart forcing Banbury to concede a lineout in their 22. The ball from the line out was spread wide and great handling from the Bicester centres saw the ball quickly to the right wing where Anthony Iveson was well tackled by the Banbury wing. Banbury came in from the side at the ruck and the resulting penalty allowed Bicester to draw in the Banbury forwards following a typical bullocking run from Jordan Hirons, Banbury had not retreated 10m and the subsequent penalty was taken quickly, allowing Tim Price to put Tom Burrell in for the third Bicester Try. 15 – 8.
Bicester continued to press and in a moment of individual skill, James Grosvenor beat several would be tacklers and calmly chipped the ball over the full back. James was first to the ball, hacked on and won the foot race to score, seemingly inches before the dead ball line. 20 – 8.
The remaining 8 or so minutes were a tense affair and a spirited Banbury were clearly not beaten. numerous breaks were made by their ever present back row and pacey backs. One such break looked odds on to produce a score when their right winger appeared in the centre of the pitch, one on one with the Bicester Fullback. Tim Price, as solid as ever made the tackle and thwarted the attack. Banbury however were not going to be repelled easily, with five minutes remaining they crossed under the posts for a converted try 20 – 15.
The remaining minutes seemed to be all Banbury. The only foray into the Banbury half being cut short following poor discipline leading to the referee reversing a penalty for back chat. The resulting penalty was run quickly by Banbury and several phases of play saw them into the Bicester 22, looking very likely to score. Quick hands found the ball moved again to their left wing, unfortunately the pass was a difficult one to take and was knocked on. Game over – Bicester 20 – Banbury 15.
other members of the 36 strong age group who did not. Without such a strong squad the fourth win in four years would not have been possible.
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