2013/14 University Rugby Review - The Heat is On

In the first Wednesday back to BUCS Rugby there were plenty of games and surprises up and down the country.

As highlighted in our detailed Post-Christmas Preview, things are now beginning to heat up in the competition, with only a few points separating the top few teams in both the north and the south as they battle it out for those all-important knockout spots.

To get things underway in the Northern Premier A League Durham resumed their season in classic fashion with a four tries to two, 28-17 victory over local rivals Newcastle.

The victory sees Durham hold on to their lead at the top of the table, but still only by the smallest of margins as title rivals Loughborough also continued their winning ways; cruising to a 35-0 home victory over sixth place Nottingham.

Ahead of next Wednesday's fixtures Durham top the tree with 37 points, just two ahead of Durham on 35.

Elsewhere in the division third place Leeds Carnegie, who look as if they will be right there or there abouts come the end of the season travelled the short distance to local rivals Leeds Uni in a varsity re-match, that turned into a drubbing.

The visiting side continued their push to the tables top spots with a powerful 54-22 victory.

The result sees the Met side close the gap in third and Leeds Uni still rooted to the bottom of the league with just 10 points.

Next week in the penultimate round of fixtures Northumbria host Durham in another all North East derby, Nottingham welcome Leeds Uni in a ‘battle at the bottom’ and victorious Newcastle host Leeds Met.

 

Elsewhere, in the Northern B Premier League second place Nottingham Trent beat third place Durham 36-11, and brought themselves just five points behind top of the league Birmingham.

Also, Loughborough seconds managed to grind out a 15-8 lead on the road to Sheffield Hallam.

Loughborough seconds sit in fourth place on 23 points, five off Durham and Nottingham Trent who are joined on 28.

 

In the southern half of the BUCS rugby competition, in the Premier A League, there were two games yesterday.

League leaders Hartpury maintained their ascendency in the league with a commanding 41-0 win over Bristol University.

The victory sees the University of West England strengthen their grip on the league, whilst Bristol sit in fifth place with just 17 points.

The other game of the round was the varsity repeat between the two Cardiff sides. On this occasion it was the Met side who came out victorious with a storming 43-0 victory at home.

The win will really boost the spirits of Cardiff Met as they pull themselves into second in the league, whilst the university side still sit in bottom place.

 

Finally, in the southern Premier B league Cardiff Met seconds stay at the top of the league with a 25-12 victory away from home at St Mary’s University and Exeter seconds, currently in third place, cruised past Hartpury seconds 41-10.

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