Hartpury close gap in Premier South A as Loughborough continue to control Premier North A

With Premier North B and Northern 1A not in action this week, we focus our attention on just the four divisions this week which produced some outstanding rugby.

Loughborough maintained their 100 per cent start, while Leeds Beckett bounce back from last week’s defeat with their rivals Leeds University clinching their first win of the season.

In Premier South A’ Hartpury closed the gap on Exeter who weren’t in action this week and there were welcome victories for Bath and the University of South Wales.

Elsewhere, Lancaster continued their charge in Northern 2A, while Nottingham Trent 2nds clocked up another sensational win in Midlands 2A.

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Premier North A

Loughborough made it three wins from three after a comprehensive 50-19 home victory over Newcastle 1st.

Considering the side from the North-East went into this clash unbeaten, this was a resounding win for the hosts who ran in seven tries.

Gair Currie and Brendan Mandivenga crossed in the first half for Loughborough who led 21-12 at half-time with the boot of Josh Sharp adding a further 10 points to the home sides total after the tries.

All of Newcastle first half points were penalties and they knew that they needed to cross the whitewash sooner rather than later, but the opposite happened just after the break.

Currie dived over into the corner before completing his hat-trick with another Loughborough try sandwiched in between to make it 36-12 to the hosts.

Dan Watt crossed for his second try in as many weeks to stretch Loughborough’s lead to 31 points before Newcastle dotted down for their first of the afternoon.

However, Loughborough found room for a seventh and final try of the day as Charlie Kingham rounded off a performance which highlights once again Loughborough’s title credentials.

They sit a point clear of Newcastle and two clear of Durham – who have both played four matches already this season – but playing catch-up are last year’s champions, Leeds Beckett.

After defeat to Loughborough last week, they put in a terrific performance away at Durham to secure a narrow 18-13 win.

Beckett’s forwards were tremendous all afternoon and after 30 minutes they led 6-8 and it was the visitors who made the first major breakthrough from a line out drive.

But Durham hit back after the interval as they smashed their way past the Leeds Beckett defence to level the scores.

However, it was Leeds’ sheer power which created the crucial try of the match to seal an excellent victory as Beckett now sit fourth in the table, just four points behind Loughborough.

Elsewhere in Premier North A, the University of Leeds picked up their first win of the season with a 16-12 win over Nottingham University.  Leeds weren’t in action last week and that may have given them the edge over Nottingham who have now lost all three of their matches this season.

Results

Loughborough University 50-19 Newcastle University

Durham University 13-18 Leeds Beckett University

University of Leeds 16-12 University of Nottingham

Premier South A

With league leaders the University of Exeter not in action this week, Hartpury College took advantage as they closed the gap at the top of Premier South A to four points after a 25-10 win over Cardiff Met University.

This was Hartpury’s second game of the season and they have now picked up two bonus point wins. A first half hat-trick from Cameron Roberts gave the home side a 20-10 lead at the  break with Cardiff Met profiting from huge waves of attack to secure a Penalty Try.

The visitors from Wales were the better side after the break and once again, piled the pressure on Hartpury who did well to weather the storm.

And it was the hosts who found that extra gear as James Neal crossed in the corner 15 minutes from the end to wrap up the match for Hartpury.

After three straight defeats to start the season, the University of Bath clinched their first win of the campaign as they beat the University of Bristol 21-20 at Clifton Rugby Club. This was Bristol’s first defeat of the year after finishing sixth last season, but for Bath, this victory could well be a catalyst as they look to make the Championship Trophy finals once again.

In the final game of Premier South A, newly promoted the University of South Wales picked up their maiden victory of the season with hard fought 13-7 win over Cardiff University. The USW moved out of the relegation spot with this Welsh derby win while Cardiff are now bottom with no win to their name in their last six matches,  despite making the Championship Trophy finals last campaign.

Results

Hartpury College 25-10 Cardiff Met

University of Bristol 20-21 University of Bath

University of South Wales 13-7 Cardiff University

Northern 2A

With no games in Premier North B or Northern 1A this week , our attention turns quickly to Northern 2A where Lancaster are the early leaders picking  up three wins from three after relegation from Northern 1A last season.

Their latest victory was against Edge Hill as they won 51-17 to go three points clear at the top. Spirits would have been high in the Edge Hill camp after their excellent 20-17 home win over Keele, but now the Beavers have dropped back down to fifth with just one in in their last nine matches.

UCLAN returned to winning ways in style as they saw off Keele University who have now lost their last two matches.

Their 25-0 win shows how much UCLAN have come on from last season where as Keele are finding life tough after being so close to promotion last season.

UCLAN now sit third in the table level on 10 points with the University of Chester who backed up their win against UCLAN last week with a 26-19 victory over bottom club the University of Liverpool 2nd.

Chester won promotion from Northern 3A last season and are enjoying their time so far in this league with two wins from their first three matches. Liverpool are still winless from their first three and will be hoping to find some inspiration from their 2013-14 season when they finished third in this division.

Results

Lancaster University 51-17 Edge Hill University

UCLAN 25-0 Keele University

University of Chester 26-19 University of Liverpool 2nd

Midlands 2A

After completely demolishing the University of Derby last week, Nottingham Trent 2nds continued their 100 per cent start in style as this time their victim was the University of Warwick 2nds who they thrashed 67-8.

This was another emphatic home win for Trent who have already notched up 153 points in three matches, including a 5-0 win on the opening day against near neighbours the University of Nottingham 4ths.

They are firmly on track to go that one step further than last season and win promotion and Trent have now win 10 of their last 13 games.

Elsewhere in the division, there were wins for the University of Lincoln and Harper Adams University College 2nds.

Results

Nottingham Trent University 2nd 67-8 University of Warwick 2nds

University of Derby (Buxton) 0-44 University of Lincoln

University of Nottingham 4th 13-22 Harper Adams University 2nd