Banbury Bulls shrugged off the disappointment of Welsh international lock Derwyn Jones making himself unavailable at the last minute by romping to a 41-20 win over Hereford at Bodicote Park.

Bulls took the lead when scrum half Tony Hurst and full back Nick Jackson created space for No 8 Rob Cockerton to stroll over the line. Fly-half Richard Lee converted.

Hereford replied with a penalty from fly half Jeremy Wilder.

Eventually the Bulls broke out, when a brilliant run from centre Graeme Cartmell set a try up for winger Stuart Viggers. Lee missed the conversion from the touch line, but landed a penalty that put Banbury into a 15-3 lead.

Hereford responded when No 8 Andrew Johnson went under the posts, for a converted try. Nevertheless, Banbury were happy to lead 15-10 at the break.

With the wind behind them in the second half, Banbury went further ahead

when, from a five-metre scrum, centre Julian Briggs took the pass and dummied his way over the line, Lee converting.

Then flanker Will Brooks broke clear, with support from prop Martin Hobley, hooker Simon Brown and Cockerton setting up a second try for Viggers under the posts. This put Banbury 29-10 up.

Hereford scored almost immediately from the kick-off, through flanker Steve Lewis.

Banbury's next try by Cartmell was set up by their pack. Hereford again fought back, and from a tap penalty, centre Sam Houton scored.

All that was left was for Banbury lock Dave Phipps to take the ball in a line-out, enabling Brown to touch down, Lee converting.