Winger Josh Deegan scored two tries as Banbury Bulls charged out of the blocks to beat visitors Grove 27-11 in their delayed Oxfordshire Cup quarter-final.

The hosts never looked back after going 15-0 up in as many minutes of Tuesday’s clash and now host Henley in the last four.

After three postponements due to the wet weather, Banbury were keen to get off to a quick start and scored early on.

Deegan was first to pounce as he cut back inside the Grove defence at pace to score the first of his brace.

Jimmy Manley then cut inside two Grove men on the left wing to go over.

Alex Fogavini added the conversion, and when he slotted a penalty, Banbury were 15-0 up after a quarter-of-an-hour.

The visitors got on the scoreboard just before half-time, when fly-half Roger Sevier kicked a penalty.

But Banbury extended their lead three minutes after the break when Deegan read a Grove pass and ran in unopposed from halfway. Fogavini converted to make it 22-3.

Inspired by the introduction at fly half of Owen Gustafson – making his return after three months out with a shoulder injury – Grove had the upper hand for the rest of the game.

After Bulls lost prop Chris Phillips through injury, Sevier cut the deficit with his second penalty.

Huw Lewis’s unconverted try got Grove into double-figures, but Banbury had the final say when skipper Ed Phillips kicked past the advancing defence and rushed through to score.

Grove had prop Cash Chivers yellow-carded late on.

BaANBURY Under 18s scored eight tries in their 52-7 victory over Shipston.

Alex Caviezel Cox, Sean Hampson, Ed Harrison and Tom Chiles, Connor Triggs, Doug Backhouse, Rhys Andrews and Callum Horne all went over.

OTHER JUNIOR SCORES

Under 16: Ampthill 39, Banbury 12 (tries W Hopkins, R Lines; con L Catania).

Under 12: Stow on the Wold 43, Banbury 28 (tries T Allen 2, G Eames-Matthews, L Swann; cons O Davis 2, L Swann 2).

Under 11: Stow on the Wold 10, Banbury 0; Stow on the Wold 20, Banbury 0; Stow on the Wold 10, Banbury 10 (tries O Whiting 2).

Under 10: Stow on the Wold 0, Banbury 20 (tries J Joubert 2, T Evans, J Hancock).