Newent gained another five points at the Rec but needed a get out of gaol card to win a proverbial “game of two halves”. Having played some superb rugby to establish a 28-0 lead inside half-an-hour, the hosts were clinging on as Banbury came back to level the scores before a stoppage time penalty goal from the boot of Doug Long (Gary & Georgina Gardner) saved the day.

Long assumed the place-kicking duties -and the fly-half role- in the absence of Tom Webb (Boulsdon Lifestyle), missing from the squad having not recovered from the injury he picked up at Lichfield. Two more of last week’s walking wounded, James Hartland (Ellis Dawe & Son) and Kyle Towers (Modern Access Scaffolding), had recovered to make the starting team. In the absence of Dan Fletcher (Empathy Grazing Creations), Leo Oakey (JS Landscaping/Ecclesiastical) moved from the flank to the second row allowing Max Rodda-Lodder (Unsponsored) (picked by Banbury as their man of the match) to make a first start on the blindside.

Despite all the recent rain, the Rec’s famously free-draining playing surface was in decent nick for the first visit of the Oxfordshire club. Combined with a calm day this held the promise of good conditions for flowing rugby and in this respect the game did not disappoint, although as it progressed the atmosphere on and off the pitch became anything but calm.

Newent’s kick-off was knocked on and the visitors were penalised at the resultant scrum, but Doug Long’s shot at goal from the 22 was hooked wide of the far post. The first score wasn’t delayed for long, however, as another penalty - for a high tackle- was kicked to touch in Banbury territory. The lineout was secured and Ben Vincent (RGV Aviation), lurking in midfield, burst through a gap and crossed by the posts to give Doug Long a straightforward conversion.

Penalties against the hosts gave Banbury a lineout deep in the 22 but they failed to secure their throw-in, a problem for them throughout the game. Newent made the most of the let-off, with a team try featuring superb off-loading and support running. Kyle Towers fielded a kick on his own 30m line to spark an attack in which the ball passed through numerous pairs of hands before being well-finished by scrum-half Ted Bailey Dave Moore). Doug Long added the extras.

An excellent kick and chase by the lively Bailey led to a Newent put-in at a scrum 20m out. The ball was secured and sent right then left, where Adrian Connelly (The Crathorne Arms) couldn’t hold the final pass on the wing. No matter, Newent’s speedster soon added another try to his fast - growing collection. Again the attack started deep in home territory, as Ted Bailey took a quick tap when a free-kick was awarded against Banbury 25m out. Kyle Towers carried to halfway before finding Connelly in a bit of space on the left. He sped down the wing, before cutting inside and evading the full-back to touch down behind the posts. Doug Long’s conversion took the score to 21-0.

The bonus point try arrived shortly afterwards, thanks to a sublime bit of skill from Joe Warner (Always Shine). Taking a pass tight to the right-hand touchline and under pressure from a tackler, Newent’s outside centre’s kick found touch deep in Banbury territory for a 50:22. Max Rodda-Lodder secured the throw-in and the pack mauled over as a unit, James Hartland claiming the touchdown. Doug Long converted for 28-0 and, with the visitors looking shell-shocked and the home support buoyant, the prospects looked good for Newent replicating the 50 points which Banbury scored in the reverse fixture back in September.

How wrong that assumption proved to be! Critically, Banbury broke their duck before the interval. More penalties against the hosts saw Max Lodda-Rodder yellow carded and Banbury with a 5m lineout. This time their routine worked well, big tighthead Immanuel Setiu-Togia making the initial carry before blindside Quade Leo peeled round to take his offload and crash over for the try. Outside centre Dan Hale added the extras to make the half-time score Newent 28 Banbury 7.

Whatever was said in the Banbury dressing room during the interval had quite an impact, for the Bulls looked a different side in the second-half. Their defence was much more aggressive, their kicking out of hand was challenging and they were more direct in using their big ball carriers and dangerous runners. Newent kept trying to play with ambition but, as the match became increasingly frantic, playing the percentages might have made life more comfortable.

The hosts did not help themselves by conceding penalties which gave Banbury good field position. The visitors opted to tap and go from one such penalty 20m out and recycled the ball through several phases before No 8 Ed Berridge forced his way over for their second try. Dan Hale added the extras.

The Bulls were soon back in the red zone, after Newent were pinged for holding on – the source of too many penalties over the past couple of games, as ball carriers have found themselves isolated. Banbury secured their throw-in and their maul marched in-field towards the Newent line. It went to ground just short, which the referee saw as a deliberate collapse by the hosts and he signalled a penalty try before showing a yellow card to hooker Ethan Allen (Landstone Construction and Estate Management).

The penalty count was by no means one-way and two high tackles in quick succession gave Newent a lineout 15m from the Banbury line. A try at this point would have done much to steady home nerves, but, after a strong carry from Ben Vincent, Max Rodda-Lodder was held up over the line. When Banbury’s goal-line dropout came to ground there was a brief flare-up which resulted in a yellow card for James Hartland and a red for Banbury’s scrum half Sam Cox.

Both sides failed to take advantage of further penalty lineouts in the opposition 22 before, with just five minutes of normal time on the clock, Banbury took another opportunity as they secured their throw-in 10m out. They ran the ball along the line and winger Charlie Cranley cut back inside, rounding several defenders before touching down for a try every bit as good as his opposite number Adrian Connelly’s effort in the first-half. Dan Hale converted to tie the score at 28-28.

If there was to be a winner at this stage, the visitors looked the more likely candidates – especially when a long kick out of hand gave them a lineout inside the Newent 22. But they were penalised at the lineout and Ted Bailey kicked to halfway. Newent secured their lineout and a multi-phased attack took them deep into the 22, where another high tackle resulted in a yellow card for Immanuel Setiu-Togia and a penalty in front of the posts. Doug Long duly slotted the kick to nudge Newent back into the lead.

With the game now in stoppage time and Banbury down to 13 men, surely there was no way back for them? There wasn’t, but not for want of trying as a break from inside centre Gus Stapleton took play to Newent’s 22. His offload didn’t go to hand so scrum ball to Newent on the game’s last play. Ben Vincent picked up from the base of a retreating scrum and got over the gain line before the ball was recycled for Doug Long to clear to touch, much to the relief of the home support.

Final score: Newent 31 Banbury 28

Newent’s Head Coach Sam Goatley (Richards Home Improvements) was pleased to have gained another five points but frustrated by aspects of his team’s performance, citing discipline, game management and defence as areas to work on. But there was much to be positive about too, including the form of talismanic captain Ben Vincent who, after a slightly tentative return from injury at Lichfield last week, was back to his hyper-energetic best in attack and defence. There was certainly no shortage of incident and tension for another good-sized crowd at the Rec, who have been richly entertained throughout the year.

Newent: N Brooks; K Towers, W Hartland, J Warner, A Connelly; D Long, T Bailey; G Myers, E
Allen, E White; L Oakey, J Marshall; M Rodda-Lodder, J Hartland, B Vincent (capt.).
Replacements: R Thomson, F Mellis, G Alvis.

Newent scorers:
Tries: B Vincent, T Bailey, A Connelly, J Hartland.
Con: D Long (4). Pen: T Webb.

Banbury scorers:
Tries: Q Leo, E Berridge, Penalty, C Cranley.
Con: D Hale (3).