Midland Division 1 - Banbury Bulls 6 Leicester Lions 12

A Controversial penalty try awarded to Leicester Lions in the tenth minute left Banbury Bulls with an uphill task, and they ended up losing 12-6 at home to the promotion contenders.

Lions were still well over ten metres from the Banbury line when, without any earlier penalty being awarded, the referee decided that Leicester would definitely have scored a try by the corner flag if the Bulls had not infringed.

At the break, Banbury, with the elements now in their favour and only seven points in arrears, were still in the match. But Leicester scored a try from a maul set up from a line-out to stretch their lead.

Banbury hit back with two penalties, both successfully converted by full back Stuart Viggers, to put the home side within a converted try of victory.

But the Leicester pack slowly turned the screw and gave the Bulls minimum chance to get back in the game.