2013/2014 University Rugby Preview - Week 6

With less than 24 hours to go before another BUCS Rugby Wednesday afternoon kicks off around the country, we at Talking Rugby Union can’t wait for the next round of University rugby action.

After a number of important victories in both the Northern and Southern divisions, the University rugby competition is beginning to really heat up, as we creep deeper into the final months of the year.

Last Wednesday joint table toppers Durham and Newcastle locked horns for the battle of the North East.
After a close fought game, Durham came back from a half time deficit to emerge eventual 20-16 winners, and put clear room between them and the rest of the pack in the Northern A league.

Elsewhere, in the Southern A division, Hartpury extended their unbeaten run at the top of league with an impressive 43-14 victory of Bristol University, and Bath won an enthralling encounter with Exeter – 38-22.

This week in the Northern A league, Durham host another North Eastern Derby, as Northumbria travel to the Maiden Castle 3G.

Northumbria sit fifth in the league with just one 29-0 victory over bottom of the table Nottingham two weeks ago.

However, they are bound to be lacking in confidence after a 62-0 drubbing away to Loughborough two weeks ago.

The game is sure to be another thriller in the North East, as reigning champions Durham look to continue their perfect season and extended their lead at the top of the table with five wins from five.

Also in the league, fourth place Leeds Met host second place Newcastle in Yorkshire.

Although lower in the league, Leeds have only lost one game from three attempts, and are coming off the back of an impressive varsity repeat, as they destroyed Leeds University 43-10 last Wednesday.

After their first loss of the season to Durham last week, Newcastle will be looking to return to winning ways.

A win for either side will see a big move in the table and provide a large amount of fuel for whoever wants to chase down Durham.

Finally, another game in Leeds, as the University host Nottingham.

Both sides sit in the final two places of the league table, with Nottingham rooted to the bottom spot with four losses and still no points so far this season.

Having only won one game themselves, Leeds will be targeting this as a ‘must win’ if they are to begin to climb their way back up the table.

The BUCS Northern B division have a week off this Wednesday, with no fixtures.

Moving over to the Southern half of the University Rugby competition.

In the Premier A league, the pick of the round sees unbeaten table toppers Hartpury travel to third place Exeter, for what is sure to be an enticing game.

Harpury will be in high spirits as they are comfortably tip of the table with four wins from as many games and 20 points.

However, Exeter, who although sit third in the table, with 10 points, will be licking their wounds after a disappointing defeat away at Bath last week.

The loss saw the two teams split in the league table, after being previously joined on points.

The prospect of a visiting Hartpury side is sure to be a daunting one.

Elsewhere, second place Bath travel to fifth place Bristol.

Bath have only lost one game this season, and as mentioned, recorded an impressive 38-27 victory over Exeter last Wednesday which has seen them solidify their place as second in the league.

However, Bristol, although only fifth, have had a disappointing season by their standards, having already played five games and won only two of them, against Cardiff University and Swansea.

Last week they succumbed convincingly, 43-14 to Hartpury.

Finally in the division, we have an all Welsh clash between Swansea and Cardiff University.

Both sides are in the bottom two positions, but like Leeds in the North, Cardiff are sure to target this fixture as a platform to move back up the table, as Swansea are stuck cold at the bottom of the league with no points from four games.

In the Southern B League there are only two fixtures this week, as Cardiff Met seconds host top of the table St Mary’s University in the Welsh capital, and Bath second team welcome Cardiff University seconds to Southern England.

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