MIDLANDS 2 WEST SOUTH

BANBURY Bulls secured second place and a play-off spot after hammering Spartans 70-22 at Bodicote Park.

While Earlson were crowned champions, Bulls will now visit the Midlands 2 West North runners-up, most likely Crewe & Nantwich, in a promotion showdown on Saturday, April 26.

Chris Phillips and Josh Deegan led the way with hat-tricks in Banbury’s 11-try success as they pulled clear after leading just 18-15 in the first half.

Captain Ed Phillips kicked Banbury ahead with a penalty on 20 minutes and added six conversions.

Bulls led 13-0, but were pegged back by two Spartans tries.

More good finishing kept Spartans in it at 18-15, but they did not add to their tally until the final play.

By then, tries from Jed Boyle (2), Carl Daniels, Brett Richmond, his first for the club, and Joe Mills had built on the efforts of Chris Phillips and Deegan to put Banbury out of sight.