BANBURY president Steve Mascall could not hide his delight after making a first-team return at the age of 50.

The veteran prop was drafted into the side due to an injury crisis as Banbury lost 26-20 at Spartans in Midlands 2 West South on Saturday.

And having played once, he says is available should the need arise again.

“I loved it,” said Mascall. “It was really a great boost.

“It was great to seem what it is like in the first-team dressing room again.

“That was really my first game of the season, so it was in at the deep end.”

He added: “I made my debut for Banbury in 1983. In the whole of the team on Saturday, no one was born before that!”

Aside from two years at the then first class Rugby Lions in the 1980s, Mascall has been a one-club man.

As well as his presidential duties, he is also running Banbury’s veterans team.

“It is quite something for the president to be called up,” he said.

“I’d like to think I didn’t let the side down.

“I’m not as fit as I used to be, but I could still cope well in the scrums.”

Now a qualified referee, Mascall has played for Banbury since the age of 11, clocking up more than 800 games and was a flanker before moving into the front row.

“I don’t think anybody else in the history of the club has played more games than me,” he said.

Asked about another call-up, Mascall added: “You never know. I am available.”

JUNIOR SCORES

OBB Under 17 League: Reading Abbey 22, Banbury 24 (tries C Allerton, H Smith, H Graham, H Saar; cons S Manning 2).

Under 16: Sutton Coldfield 19, Banbury 35 (tries C Mallock 2, J Dew, A Peachey, W Hopkins; cons J Briggs 2; pen Briggs 2).