Tim Rumford, is far from happy with his side’s recent performances: “I’m bitterly disappointed,” he said. “It’s not a reflection on the way we’ve prepared, our players simply haven’t approached the game with the correct attitude. “The honeymoon period is over, we’ll be looking to bring in some players. But it happens at this level, we’re not going to cast anyone aside but it’s important we realise as a club and as individuals where we are. Having a wake-up call early on certainly won’t do us any harm.

“The game against York is going to be really tough, but it’s a great challenge. It’s our first home game of the season and there’s lots of interest around the game locally and we need to step up. We need to starting rising to these challenges. Hopefully we’ll have two or three new faces in for the weekend and hopefully that will make us competitive. “If we can be competitive in the closing stages of the game then it will give us a chance of taking the points – that’s what we’re looking for.”

Despite last week’s defeat by Keighley, York City Knights, coach James Ford says his team can take a lot of positives out of the performance: “Given the amount of possession they had I was pretty impressed with our defensive stuff and I thought we showed a lot of character to be in the game,” he said. “Obviously there are one or two areas we want to improve on but we knew that coming into the season. We’ve got a young squad and it was never going to be about game one for us it’s about game 21 and beyond that. The only way these players are going to get experience and improve is by playing, making mistakes and having the opportunity to learn from it. “Oxford is an opportunity for us to take a step forward. I imagine there will be quite a lot of passion in the game. We’ll be working on one or two things that didn’t help us too much against Keighley and I’ll be hoping the players take another step forward.” Loose forward Colton Roche and wing Jamel Chisholm are likely to miss the game through injury but Harry Carter and Ryan Mallinder should both be available for selection.


COYB's

From the York Press, www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkci ... ord_blues/ York not looking forward to ORL match COYB's

From the York Press, www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkci ... ord_blues/ York not looking forward to ORL match COYB's

Foot in both camps:

Currently with Oxford:
Danny Allan - born in York and signed for York City Knights after he left Leeds
Sam Blaney - started his career with Hull, but then moved to York. Looked to be 18th man last week, so this could be a good time to get back in the side.
Tim Rumford - was with York when they were called York Wasps, and had a second spell there later in his career.

Other:
Jordan Rice - played once for York before signing for Oxford. Was also due to play in a York trial game this pre-season, but I'm not sure if they took him on.
Iain Morrison - came out of retirement to make a couple of interchange appearances for Oxford in 2013, and then signed for York. Has since moved on and recently joined Featherstone Rovers as a coach.

onec more great work Mr Cube see you sunday

From the Oxford Mail www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/rugby ... challenge/ COYB's

From the Oxford Mail www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/rugby ... challenge/ COYB's

3 Bulls players turning out for you apparently

Confirmed. Nathan Brook and Adam Conroy on one month loans and Dave Peterson on dual reg.