MIDLANDS 2 WEST SOUTH

BANBURY Bulls dropped from first to fourth after a 27-19 defeat at Malvern.

Bulls, who were depleted by injury, led late on, but Malvern’s superior set piece eventually took its toll.

Banbury scrum half Ed Phillips opened the scoring with a try, but they had lock Matt Brock sin-binned before conceding a converted penalty try.

Fly half Joe Mills put Bulls back in front, Phillips converting.

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Malvern slotted a penalty, but trailed 19-10 when Bulls wing Jed Boyle went over and Phillips converted.

The hosts replied with two tries, the latter after Bulls hooker Micky Fox was yellow-carded.

Phillips saw a late drop-goal attempt charged down before Malvern were awarded a penalty try, the conversion making it 27-19.

Boyle was red-carded after criticising the referee’s decision.

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