2013/14 University Rugby Gallery - UCLan 10 - Leeds Met Seconds 36

On a cold, damp and windy university Rugby Wednesday afternoon in Preston, Leeds Metropolitan University journeyed over the Pennines and across the border for a war of the rose’s fixture with the University of Central Lancashire.

Unfortunately for the home side it was the white rose of Yorkshire that reigned supreme, as a number of costly mistakes from UCLan handed the game to Leeds.

In the Northern 1A league table, before the game, Leeds were undefeated and top of the table with three wins from three; whereas UCLan were the extreme opposites, with no wins to their name from attempts – rooting them to the bottom of the league without a point.

Five tries for the visitors to just one from UCLan was the difference, as the undefeated Leeds continued their perfect season.

A number of handling errors and sloppiness at the breakdown and set-piece proved costly for UCLan.
The game ended with a final score of UCLan 10 – Leeds Met Seconds 36.

The victory cemented Leeds’s place at the top of the table with four wins from four. Meanwhile, UCLan stay rooted to the bottom of the league with no points, and four losses from as many games.

UCLan Head Coach, Sean Taylor, told Talking Rugby Union that “It was all our own mistakes that let us down today.

“Leeds were a well drilled side, but a bit robotic I thought: if we could have been more creative in both the forwards and backs I think the game would have been a lot closer.

“We just played root one all day, really. Our forwards were taking the first contact every time – we didn’t create enough.

“We came up to this league for the first time this year, and I have to say it has been difficult, but there’s still plenty to work on in training and a long time left in the season.”

Next week UCLan are on the road to Sheffield first team, whilst Leeds Met entertain Yorkshire rivals Hull at their Headingley Campus.