RUNAWAY leaders Banbury must not take their foot off the gas, according to head coach James Kerr, if they are to be crowned champions.

Bulls stretched their advantage at the top of Midlands 2 West (South) to nine points with a 33-0 victory over second-placed Earlsdon at Bodicote Park on Saturday.

It leaves them in pole position with five matches remaining to return to Midlands 1 West after spending five seasons in the seventh tier.

But Kerr knows the job is not done yet, especially with Bulls still to face Spartans and Pinley, who sit third and fourth.

“We are not taking it lightly,” said Kerr.

“But when you beat the only other real contenders for the cup 33-0, I think we have got to take our hat off to the boys.”

He added: “There were no celebrations on Saturday as if we had won the league.

“It was all about ‘well done guys, enjoy it’, but there is still Leamington away and a few other teams who we historically slip up against.

“It is ours to lose, but it is about keeping our focus and playing until the last minute of the season.

“That is the only way we will win the league in the fashion we want to.”

Bulls have been contenders for the last few seasons, finishing third in 2014/15 and second the previous year.

But a move to add more home-grown talent last summer has paid dividends, something which has not shocked Kerr.

He said: “We knew we were going to be contenders this year so I would not say I am surprised.

“I think there have been a few games that in previous seasons we may have lost because of a lack of confidence and continuity.

“But this year we have had changes and still remained confident and capable of achieving the way that we want to play rugby.”

Bulls have lost only two league games this season and have enjoyed strong cup runs, booking a spot in the last four of the Oxfordshire Cup and making the Midland quarter-final of the RFU Intermediate Cup.

Kerr has been particularly impressed with the home form which has seen them win eight of their nine matches.

They have scored more than 40 points on five occasions, including a 105-8 win over Droitwich last month.

Kerr said: “I think this year we have got the squad and developed the confidence to be able to say this is Bodicote Park and it does not matter who or when or how and that has been the mentality.”