Banbury’s promotion hopes received a huge setback as a much-changed side lost 12-3 at Leamington in Midlands 2 West South on Saturday.

The opening quarter proved to be a stalemate with Banbury comfortably playing against the wind and Leamington unable to mount meaningful attacks.

A bad day for the Bulls was summed up when a promising backs movement broke down with a loose pass being intercepted by Leamington centre, Jim Robinson, who cantered to the line unopposed from halfway, adding the conversion himself.

Worse was to follow for the Bulls.

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From the kick-off, a missed tackle opened up their defence and slick handling and passing put Jamie Harrison in for the try giving Leamington a 12- point advantage.

In the second half, despite the play being exclusively in the Leamington half, a succession of errors allowed the hosts to keep their line intact.

Eddie Phillips did get the Bulls on the scoreboard with a penalty.

But any momentum was lost when a serious injury to a Leamington player led to the final 15 minutes being played on an adjacent pitch.

While Banbury continued to dominate procedings they never looked likely to score.

This loss leaves the Bulls promotion hopes hanging by a thread and they must hope that the leading clubs, Old Laurentians and Newbold, slip up.

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