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Bromsgrove RFC 1XV Match report v Banbury

02
Dec
The Boars fine winning run was ended in an enthralling contest away at Banbury 19-14.
Both sides went toe to toe in a game that ebbed and flowed as both teams tried to move the ball in attack, but were met by stern resistance on both sides. Banbury started the game the stronger and the Boars defence was severely tested in the opening 20 minutes but bar one lapse held firm, however that lapse saw Banbury Full Back score under the posts from a cleverly worked move off a lineout. Bromsgrove responded immediately with a well worked try of their own scored in the corner by Tom Sadler. Banbury then score another try after Bromsgrove spilled the ball under their own sticks and the Banbury player scored in the corner which was again converted. After about 30 minutes Bromsgrove started to gain dominance as the big Banbury pack started to tire and the referee harshly disallowed a try just before half time which skipper George Amphlett was adamant he scored. A solitary penalty was scant reward.

Bromgrove dominated the 2nd half but Banbury managed a 95 metre breakaway to extend their lead to 19-11 with about 20 minutes to go. After a penalty in front of the post made the score 19-14 Bromsgrove pushed and pushed even after having two men in the sin bin but couldn’t quite find the decisive moment that would at least of secured a draw.

 

Dan Protherough stated, “Firstly congratulations to Banbury, it was a great game, which either side could have won. Banbury are a good side who stressed our defence at times especially in the 1st half but I thought we had enough chances to win the game in the 2nd half but weren’t quite clinical enough at the crucial moments.

From our point of view, it would be easy to blame the referee for this defeat as he allowed them far to much licence to slow the ball down illegally and roll in the way of  our scrum half going north south which we were told at the beginning of the season wasn’t going to be allowed, also I felt both yellow cards were ridiculous, I’ve watched the video and on Finn’s yellow the Banbury prop is the one with his knee’s on the floor but the referee is on the wrong side.

However any proper review has to focus on what we can control.  I thought we played some great rugby and had the large majority of possession and territory 2nd half, I was in fact very proud of how the lads chased the game in the last 15 minutes when at times we were down to 13 but our set piece faltered a bit and probably the biggest thing for me was we didn’t connect on line breaks as well as we should have. That said there were a lot of positives to take and we have just got to dust ourselves down and focus on Syston next week, once again congratulations to Banbury, and we look forward to seeing them early next year at Finstall Park.”