Seven heaven for Loughborough and Exeter

Loughborough and Exeter both made it seven wins from seven in the league while there was a lot of cup action taking place across the country this week.

In terms of the leagues, Leeds Beckett and Hartpury continue to hunt down Loughborough and Exeter while there was derby joy for Newcastle and a much needed win for Bristol.

In the cup competitions, Loughborough 2nds suffered their first defeat of the season, while Lancaster made it eight straight wins and Nottingham Trent 2nds continue their good form.

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Premier North A

In our featured BUCS game this week, Loughborough University made it seven wins from seven after a 19-10 victory over Durham University.

Played on Loughborough’s new 3/4G pitch, it allowed a quick tempo game to be played out.

However, the hosts’ first two tries came from sheer power as rolling mauls gave Loughborough the lead with both scores being touched down by Gab Carroll.

Scrums were fairly even in the first 25 minutes but as the game progressed Durham gained the advantage but ultimately could not capitalise. It was the Loughborough forwards who were more street smart, showing better awareness and being more adept in managing the referee.

With Loughborough carrying in the advantage at half-time, they flew out of the blocks after the restart as Gair Currie scored their third try following another successful maul.

But Durham weren’t going to roll over that easily.  Ali Neden scored in the corner and that started a revival for the away side who were creating problems at the scrum, which was aided by some mistimed front row tinkering by Loughborough.

However, Durham couldn’t turn that pressure into points quickly enough and could only manage another unconverted try to leave the score at 19-10 as Loughborough continue their charge.

As Loughborough added to their recent wins over the University of Leeds and the University of Nottingham, champions Leeds Beckett have not faltered as they continue to play catch-up with the league leaders.

Beckett beat Newcastle University 29-14 two weeks ago and yesterday they triumphed over Varsity rivals Leeds University thanks to a 32-17 score line.

Beckett beat Leeds Uni 27-13 in the Varsity fixture at the beginning of October, but it was Leeds Uni who started on the front foot on this occasion. They did lead 12-0 at one stage, but Beckett showed just why they have won nine of their last 10 games as they turned the match around to seal victory.

Leeds Uni can hold their heads up high after this loss, but they remain 6^th in the table with just one win to their name so far this season.

From the Yorkshire derby, to the Tyneside derby and it was Newcastle University who were victorious over near neighbours Northumbria University 24-21 at Kingston Park.

Northumbria led 3-16, but a superb second half performance from Newcastle secured their second win over their arch rivals in recent times. James Philips was the stand out performer for Newcastle who are now 4^th in the table level on points with 3^rd place Durham after winning four of their six matches this season.

As for Northumbria, they remain 5^th in the table, seven points off the Champions Trophy places and are still searching for their second win of the season.

Results

Loughborough University 19-10 Durham University

Leeds Beckett 32-17 University of Leeds

Newcastle University 24-21 Northumbria University

Premier South A

Like Loughborough the University of Exeter have also won all seven of their matches so far this season as they once again came from behind to beat Cardiff Met 13-24 in Wales.

After thrashing the University of South Wales 72-0 and comfortably beating Cardiff University the week before, this was a much sterner test for the league leaders but they passed it with flying colours after trailing 10-7 at the break.

Cardiff Met will be frustrated with this defeat as they dominated for large spells in the game, but they remain 4^th in Premier South A after playing seven matches and winning three of those fixtures.

Keeping the heat on Exeter are Hartpury College who are now only two points behind the table toppers after a 27-14 home win of the University of Bath.

The visitors were ahead 14-7 on 50 minutes thanks to two tries, one coming from Tommy Vaughn –Edwards, with Zach Henry converting both. But that was as good as it got for Bath as Hartpury turned the game around in the final quarter to clinch their sixth win of the season while Bath stay 3^rd having won four of their eight games this season.

It was the start of a very good day for Hartpury whose U18 side won their 7^th ASSE title in a row. What chance have their university team got of lifting silverware at the end of this season?

In the final game in this division, bottom club the University of South Wales suffered their third straight defeat and their sixth of the season so far as they were beaten by the University of Bristol 33-5.

USW were still licking their wounds after their hammering away at Exeter and they have now shipped 172 points in their last three matches. They remain bottom of the table while this win for Bristol is their third of the season and leaves them 5^th in the league.

Results

Cardiff Met 13-24 University of Exeter

Hartpury College 27-14 University if Bath

University of Bristol 33-5 University of South Wales

Premier North B

Premier North B took a week off due to cup fixtures on Wednesday, but let’s give you a round-up of what has occurred in this division since the start of November.

Loughborough University 2nds seem to be replicating their 1^st XV as they are top of this division after winning all of their matches so far this season. Recent comprehensive wins over title challenger Nottingham Trent as well as the University of Manchester means they are now six from six, but they did crash out of the cup yesterday after a 34-24 defeat to Northern 1A league leaders Durham 3rds.

Since their win over the University of St Andrews, Bishop Burton College have risen to 2^nd in Premier North B table after wins over the University of Worcester and Durham 2nds. They are playing with confidence at the moment and that was highlighted by their thumping 73-10 win of Strathclyde 1sts to progress into the last 16 of the cup.

Nottingham Trent are nine points behind Loughborough after suffering that defeat to the league leaders. They responded with a win against the University of Worcester last week and are into the last 16 of the cup after a walkover result against the University of St Andrews.

Elsewhere, there is no win in two league matches for Durham 2nds and the University of Birmingham while wins for the University of Worcester and the University of Manchester relieved some pressure at the bottom of the league. The University of St Andrews stay marooned to the foot of the table.

Northern 1A

There was one fixture in Northern 1A this week as Leeds Beckett 2nds won 31-0 against Newcastle University 2nds to move them up to 2^nd in the table. The victory leaves Leeds Beckett five points behind league leaders Durham 3rds, but Beckett have played a game more. As for Newcastle, they are now a point behind Beckett in 4^th place, but they are the only side to have played seven games in that division.

Elsewhere in the cup, as we mentioned earlier, Durham 3rds toppled Loughborough 2nds while the University of Liverpool lost 38-5 away at the University of Glasgow from Scottish 1A. The University of Sheffield are through to the last 16 after a win over Durham 2nds.

The University of Hull – who are third in the division - weren’t in action this week, but are going well since promotion into this league last season. Manchester Met and the University of York remain in the relegation zone after losing their last two matches.

 Result

Leeds Beckett 2nds 31-0 University of Newcastle 2nds

Midlands 1A

Midlands 1A was also out of action this week due to cup fixtures, but since our last review, the University of Leicester remain top of this division. They beat Loughborough University 3rds to make it five wins from five, but suffered their first defeat of the season to Harper Adams College last week, meaning the league leaders are now just two points clear of Loughborough.  

Leicester weren’t in cup action, but Loughborough were and they are through to the last 16 to play Edinburgh 1sts after a 0-30 win against the University of Worcester.

Fellow Midlands 1A side Nottingham 3rds were defeated by Edinburgh while the University of Warwick also exited the competition after a 45-3 defeat to the University of Birmingham.

Northern 2A

There were no league games in Northern 2A this week, but the league leaders Lancaster University are through to the quarter-finals of the Northern Conference Cup after a 12-3 win against Leeds Beckett 3rds. Lancaster have won all five league games this season adding a win against UCLan to that tally last week and they are now eight matches unbeaten.

Even though they are sitting 2^nd in the table and are performing well since promotion last season, the University of Chester have now lost their last two matches in all competitions.  

After clinching their third win of the season over Edge Hill two weeks ago, they lost to Keele last week before being dumped out of the cup this week by Sheffield Hallam who sit bottom of Northern 2B.

Hallam won 78-6 and progress into the last eight. Chester will be hoping this result doesn’t affect their solid start to life in Northern 2A.

Elsewhere after that defeat to Lancaster, UCLan were in cup action this week and are through to the quarter-finals after dispatching Bangor University 22-0. They will play the University of Leeds 3rds on February 17^th 2016 for a place in the last four of the Conference Cup.

And finally, bottom club Edge Hill have lost the last three since our last review. Defeat to Chester and then again to the University of Liverpool 2nds leaves them six points from safety. To add to their woes, they lost to Liverpool John Moores University 12-22 in the cup yesterday.

Midlands 2A

After defeat to Harper Adams University at the start of the month, Nottingham Trent University 2nds have responded magnificently. That was and still is their only loss of the season as they remain top of Midlands 2A.

Their only league game since then was a 41-0 win over the University of Lincoln and they have progressed into the last eight of the Midlands Conference Cup after wins over the University of Derby 2nds and Anglia Ruskin University.   

Elsewhere 2^nd placed Harpers Adams are also through after against 12-21 win against fellow Midland 2A side University of Warwick 2nds while bottom club the University of Derby are out of this year’s competition after defeat to Birmingham 3rds.