Josh Deegan raced in for a hat-trick of first-half tries as Banbury Bulls thrashed Nuneaton Old Edwardians 53-17 in Midlands 2 West (South) at Bodicote Park.

Skipper Eddie Phillips set a young and relatively inexperienced Banbury side on the way with a penalty after 15 minutes.

The Bulls were then awarded a penalty try, with Phillips adding the conversion, and the offending Nuneaton player sin-binned.

Deegan opened his try account, and with Phillips adding the extras it was 17-0.

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The Banbury skipper was successful with another penalty, and with Old Edwardians having two more players sin-binned, the hosts took advantage with a pushover try by No 8 Sam Ridgeway, converted by Phillips.

Deegan then crossed the Nuneaton line twice in quick succession, and with Phillips converting both it was 41-0 at half-time.

The visitors replied with a try after the break, and with the Bulls picking up back-to-back yellow cards, Nuneaton were awarded a penalty try for a collapsed scrum before adding a converted try to make it 41-17.

Returned to a full complement of players, Banbury hit back and Jed Boyle scored a great individual try, before finishing off a sparkling run by fly half John Fox for a brace.

Phillips slotted the first of the two conversions to finish with a tally of 18 points.

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