2014/15 BUCS Review, Round 4: Review

Intensity in BUCS rugby was raised this week as the cup came to the fore. Knowing it was win or bust, everyone went out desperate to avoid the defeat, giving the successors that little bit extra to celebrate on student night!

Starting in West Yorkshire and while Leeds Beckett’s first team have taken all the headlines by making a perfect start to Premier North A, their second team have also dominated by winning their opening three games to the Northern 1A division. They hosted Birmingham 2nds in the cup and comfortably swatted them aside in a 41-10 victory. Leeds will be hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the season into the next round of the cup, when they will be looking to cause an upset at Premier North B side Nottingham Trent.

Elsewhere in the cup York won their first game of their campaign by edging out Leicester 27-22. York led 17-3 at halftime thanks to a dominant display from their pack which forced a penalty try from a scrum and a marauding maul which allowed James Peacock to dot down. Leicester fought back in the second half and took the lead with two tries while York captain Thom Arnott in the sin bin. With Arnott back on the field York eventually sealed the tie with a superb winger’s try from Archie Cable and a piece of individual magic from Sam Durno, who regathered his own chip to cross the line. As reward for their win York now face a long trip to Dundee for the chance to make it to the last 16.

Durham 3rds took a trip over the border to take on Glasgow and ran the hosts close but ultimately Jamie Fieldhouse’s moment of class was the difference as the Scottish side ran out 20-10 winners. Fieldhouse somehow managed to elude five would-be defenders before touching down in the corner. Sam Bullock’s pinpoint goalkicking ensured Glasgow always kept their noses in front and his late penalty eased any nerves with Durham only trailing by seven points.

The cup also saw Loughborough 3rds, Exeter 2nds and Manchester amongst the other teams to put their name in the hat for the next round draw, with Nottingham 2nds and Liverpool among the sides who will only have their respective leagues to focus on from now on.

With Premier South A leaders Exeter not in league action this week, Hartpury moved up to second and cut the margin at the top to seven points with a 38-21 win at Cardiff Met. Cardiff will be looking to make up for two disappointing results since their opening day success.

In Premier North A Leeds Beckett Carnegie show no signs of being beaten as they continued their perfect start with a 43-15 thrashing of Northumbria. Last year’s runners up look intent on going one better this season and have taken maximum points from their first three fixtures.

Reigning champions Durham were beaten again, this time agonizingly losing out to Loughborough. Despite a late Durham try, the visitors managed to come away with a 17-16 win. Loughborough, coached by former England hooker George Chuter, had their forwards to thank for some set piece dominance which led to their two tries.

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