2013/2014 University Rugby Review - Week 5

After another thrilling Wednesday afternoon of University rugby, Talking Rugby Union brings you all the latest scores, photos and standings from around the country.

The TRU team were out and about in both the northern and southern divisions to bring you the very best insight into week five’s BUCS rugby.

In the Northern Premier A league the standout fixture was the battle for the North East, as Durham made the short journey to Newcastle.

Both sides were undefeated going into the game and locked on points at the top of University rugby.

The home side made an emphatic start to the game coring an early try to lead 7-0. The sides then exchanged penalties, with Newcastle still holding a seven point advantage.

After another handful of penalties and a yellow card for both sides, Newcastle went into the break leading 16-9. It was an uncharacteristic first half for the champions Durham, who looked to be losing the battle for the contact area.

However, the champions were not going to let their unbeaten run go without a fight, as they kicked into life at the start of the second half.

A lineout was cleanly won by the Durham forwards, and then with delightful simplicity moved along the back line to touch down in the far corner. However, the conversion was missed, to leave Durham still two points adrift.

A further penalty was awarded and converted by Durham to take the lead for the first time.

Disaster then struck for Newcastle, as two yellow cards were awarded for repeated infringements, leaving the home side with just 13 men on the field. Durham managed to convert one of the subsequent penalties; extend their lead to 20-16 and seal the victory.

The brilliant comeback showed the true grit and determination of the Durham University rugby side, who have been national champions twice in the last three years. The victory also marked Durham’s 40 game unbeaten run in BUCS University rugby – an incredible feat.

Elsewhere in the northern Premier A league, both Leeds based sides clashed in a varsity repeat.

Leeds Met won on that occasion and repeated the feat yesterday afternoon, with a crushing 43-10 home victory over their closest rivals.

Loughborough travelled to local rivals Nottingham and executed a comfortable 34-7 victory over the home side.

In the league table, Durham stay fixed to the number one spot with four wins from four and 17 points.

However, even with this week’s loss, Newcastle are still hot on their heels with 16 points in second.

Leeds Met recorded their second win of the 2013/14 University Rugby season but stay in fourth place, with Loughborough in third. Finally, Leeds moved to sixth in the league with just 5 points and Nottingham stay rooted to the bottom with none.

In the Northern B league, undefeated table toppers Birmingham welcomed Edinburgh University to the midlands and sent them back to Scotland dejected after a punishing 57-7 victory.

Birmingham stay top of the league with four wins from four and 18 points. Whilst in second place Durham 2nds are joint with Nottingham Trent on 13 points each.

Durham beat Sheffield Hallam yesterday in Yorkshire by 50 points to 17 and Nottingham Trent defeated the University of Manchester by 24 points to 5.

The second game was Manchester’s second defeat in a row as they stay in fourth place with just 8 points.

In the Southern half of the 2013/14 University Rugby competition league leaders Hartpury echoed the work of Durham in the north, by sealing their fourth win from as many games, with an impressive 43-14 victory over Bristol University.

Hartpury stay rooted to the top of the table with an incredible 20 points from four games. Bristol slumped to fifth in the league with just two wins from five games.

Also, in the battle for Cardiff, the University hosted the Metropolitan side and took part in an incredibly close fought battle.

The visitors eventually came out on top, however, with a 16-11 victory over the University.

And finally, Talking Rugby Union were at the game of the round, as Bath welcomed Exeter to the Sulis Club ground.

Both sides were undefeated going into the tie with two wins from as many games; however, Exeter were ahead of Bath by just one point with ten so far.

Unfortunately, a serious injury early on for Exeter brought an early halt to proceedings and clearly affected the visiting side when they game re-started.

In an end to end game of rugby it was Bath who took control of the game through standout performances from second row Ollie Parkinson with a brace of tries, alongside winger George Drury with his own pair and some excellent kicking – a man of the match performance.

The home side ended the game 38-22 victors and took their place at second in the league.

Lastly in the second tier of the southern competition, St Mary’s University won their third game in a row with a 24-16 victory over Hartpury seconds in Twickenham.

Exeter seconds beat Cardiff University seconds 47-17; Bath 2s beat the University of South Wales 18-11 and lastly Cardiff Met seconds beat the University of Reading 19-16 in a real nail-biter over the border.

Stay tuned to Talking Rugby Union, the home of University rugby news, images, videos and results, with separate match reports to follow from Bath, Exeter, Leeds Met and UCLan.