2013/14 University Rugby Review - Week 9

With just three weeks left of the University rugby calendar before students depart home for their Christmas breaks, the competition is really beginning to heat up.

Talking Rugby Union, as ever, wants to bring you all the latest BUCS Rugby scores and analysis from both the Northern and Southern leagues.

Last week in the North Premier A League reigning champions Durham succumbed to their first league defeat in over 40 games.

The men in purple were defeated in their own backyard by sporting experts Loughborough University, 13-5 last Wednesday.

However, yesterday, the men from the North East managed to turn things around and return to winning ways on the road at bottom place Nottingham.

Nottingham came out of the blocks fastest, converting an early penalty to take the lead 3-0. However, true to form, the visitors and reigning Champions hit back hard with a try from a driving maul.

A further try and two penalties for the visitors established a commanding 18-3 lead at the break.

As the teams returned to the field it was more of the same, as Durham scored another try just minutes into the second half. Durham missed the conversion but still stayed well ahead 23-3.

Durham scored a further two tries and emerged victors with an impressive 37-10 victory. The home side had just the one try in consolidation.

Nottingham stay rooted to the bottom of the league whilst Durham conceded their top spot for the first time this season to Loughborough.

The Midlands side recorded an impressive 26-13 victory away at Newcastle University, and although level on points with Durham, ended the week in the top spot with a better points difference.

For the first time in a number of years Durham look vulnerable, and Loughborough have taken this opportunity with both hands.

The second half of the season is set to be a fiercely competitive sprint to the finish.

Finally, Northumbria beet Leeds University, in Yorksihre, by 28 points to 18. 

The Northern Premier B League had no fixtures yesterday – they return to action next week.

In the southern half of the competition, in the Premier A league, once again there was plenty of high quality University Rugby on display.

Exeter University kept their title hopes alive with an impressive 31-5 victory away at Swansea.

The victory took the English side to second in the league with 29 points, whilst Swansea still stay rooted to the bottom of the league with just one victory from eight attempts.

Elsewhere, Cardiff Met University beat Bristol, in England, by 23 points to 5.

Finally, in the Southern Premier B League there were no fixtures yesterday. Cardiff seconds travel across the border to face Bath seconds.

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