Banbury Bulls' failure to use a strong wind in their favour was to be their undoing as they lost 22-13 at Barker's Butts in their first Midland One match of the season.

Having been given the use of the elements in the first half by their hosts, they did not take advantage as they went into the second half 10-3 down. Barker's did not make the same mistake.

With Banbury fighting back early in the second half and having closed the gap to two points at 10-8, Barker's pulled away again, with the help of long kicks downwind, sending the Bulls' defence scampering back to defend their own line.

Banbury opened the scoring with a penalty by fly-half Ben Harrison in the opening minutes. He could have increased Bulls' total, but missed two further kicks.

Barker's took the lead in the eighth minute when they scored a converted try near the corner flag after a quickly taken tap penalty.

Banbury's Simon Purnell, and a Barkers prop were both yellow-carded over the incident. Barker's took full advantage adding a further penalty when both teams were down to 14 men.

Banbury were right back in it seven minutes after the break with an excellent try from full back Paul Cartwright.

It followed some superb diagonal running from scrum half Tony Hurst whose diagonal run opened gaps in the Butts defence.

However Barkers hit back almost instantly with another converted try as the home side lead 17-8. But some poor handling from Barkers' defence, allowed Bulls cut the deficit by winger Gareth Edwards.

It was all over for Bulls when Coventry scored another try.