Midlands 1 West

Banbury Bulls secured their first point of the season in a 22-20 home defeat to Bournville.

Bulls battled back from 19-6 down, but couldn’t preserve an unbeaten record stretching back to January 2009.

Banbury withstood an early barrage before Bournville No 8 Matt Dickerson drove over for fly half Alex Warner to convert.

Left wing Mike Smith replied with a penalty, but after the break, Bournville full back Alex Ward scored a 65-metre solo try, converted by Warner.

A second Smith penalty reduced the arrears, but Iestyn Pratt’s try made it 19-6.

Two more Smith penalties and one from Warner took the score to 22-12.

Smith scooped up No 8 Simon Brand’s speculative pass to bag a try and the former’s penalty gave them hope.