Banbury 24, Spartans 24.

Spartans final league game proved to be a mirror of their season as a whole, with a dogged and determined performance punctuated with plenty of good and bad rugby in parts, sprinkled with plenty of tries.
Banbury could not have got off to a better start having received the kickoff, and ground was made before a flying set of backs raced in from 40 metres, Despite this early set back Spartans were in no mood to fold, and rolling their sleeves up they replied as they seized a loose ball in midfield and with the Banbury defence nowhere to be seen Spartans were given a clear run to the corner. With a tricky breeze causing problems for both sides it was Banbury who snatched a speculative kick ahead from under the nose of the black defence to run in Banbury's second try, but showing their fight a simple conversion attempt from under the posts was charged down. The Men In Black again fought back with a push over try from the forwards, but Banbury had the final say of the half when a Spartans clearing kick was fielded near halfway and good handling gave their excellent backs some space to score for a 19 - 10 lead at the break.
Early in the second half it looked as though Banbury had wrapped the game up when more slick passing allowed a flying winger to score his second. It was from this point that the game was turned on its head with a magnificent response from Spartans who, helped by the breeze, began to dominate both territory and possession. Both sides incurred the wrath of the referee and some strange decision making saw numerous errors completely change the flow of the game, but the Banbury defence remained firm as they gratefully accepted opportunities to clear their lines. With the game entering its final phases a cheeky Spartans kick ahead eluded the Banbury defence and produced a converted try, and The Blackness were sensing an upset. Worse was to follow for such a talented home side when under pressure from a lack of time and space a series of missed tackles saw a lovely try under the posts and conversion giving Spartans a well deserved draw and a bonus point as well.
Spartans left their illustrious hosts very satisfied with being the only side to score four away tries all season and with a creditable sixth place finish in a very competitive Midlands Two (South) league.