Banbury Bulls are showing the right battling qualities as their promotion push gathers pace in Midlands 2 East South.

That is the view of player-coach Grant Holmes whose side face a potential title decider at home to Market Harborough on February 13.

Before then, Banbury must see off struggling Lutterworth and Aylestone St James, but Holmes is happy with pro-gress.

And he said Saturday’s 31-19 victory over Leicester Forest, which saw them held at 19-19 going into the final quarter, showed how far they have come.

“There were some very pleasing aspects to our game along with two or three very disappointing ones,” said Holmes “To be able to dig deep at a crucial stage of the match and take back control of the game was fantastic.

“Two seasons ago we would have struggled to do that, so it shows that we have come a long way in that respect.”

Holmes added that he was disappointed with Banbury’s tackling and tactical kicking, but that had a lot to do with rustiness and changes to the backline.

CHINNOR will host Bicester under floodlights in their Oxfordshire Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, February 9.

The clash, which had been scheduled for the previous weekend, will kick off at 7.45pm.

Wallingford’s home tie with Chipping Norton and Witney versus Banbury are both scheduled for Sunday, February 7.

A date has still to be arranged for Grove’s preliminary round match against Oxford Harlequins, which must now be played by Sunday, February 14.

The winners will be at home to Henley 2nd.

In the Oxfordshire Shield, Faringdon, Gosford All Blacks and Oxford have all made the semi-finals.

But Alchester still have to play Abingdon in the preliminary round, with the winner of that visiting Harwell in the quarter-final.

Sunday, March 7 is now the cut off date for last eight ties.