2014/15 BUCS Review, Round 6: Preview

Round Six of BUCS Rugby Union action is upon us and after some cracking games last week Talking Rugby Union take a lot at some stand out games from tomorrow’s matches.

Premier South A

League leaders Exeter are not in action this week after being stunned by Cardiff University six days ago. They were beaten 16-18 in Wales which ended their 100 per cent start to the season. The current league leaders return to action next week against Hartpury College.
Speaking of Hartpury, they made it two wins in a row last week when they beat Bristol 41-5 running in six tries. The third placed side is away at Swansea tomorrow afternoon. The last time the teams met it was Hartpury who came away with the points after a 10-46 win in October of last year. They will be hoping for more of the same this year as they stay in pursuit of Exeter and second placed Bath.  
Bath went joint top of the table last week as they capitalised on Exeter’s defeat after a 29-15 victory over Cardiff Metropolitan 1sts. This week they have the chance to go top as they travel to Bristol tomorrow.  Bath have lost only one of their last four games, but Bristol have only won one of their last seven matches. Bath won 35-11 in the last encounter between the sides.

Premier North A

Leeds Beckett University only just kept their 100 per cent record intact last week as they edged out Durham 29-28. This week they are away to Loughborough who haven’t played for 13 days and have not lost at home since Leeds last beat them back in December 2013 when they won 17-27.
Unlike their city rivals, Leeds University are having a torrid time of things at the moment so maybe it’s a good time for them to have a week off from BUCS action. They lost their sixth straight match away from home last week and it could well be seven in a week’s time as they do play Leeds Beckett.
Third placed Newcastle won the Tyneside derby against Northumbria last time out and take the short trip to Durham this week. Newcastle are one of the form sides in the league having won their last three games. As for Durham, they have lost their last two and find themselves comfortably in fifth position in the table. Durham will take confidence into tomorrow’s game knowing that they beat Newcastle at home in January of this year.

Premier North B

It’s the top of the table clash in Premier North B tomorrow as Nottingham Trent host Durham 2nds. Second placed Trent were victorious last week as they saw off newly promoted Bishop Burton College 33-24. They are still unbeaten this season and go in tomorrow’s game three points behind league leaders Durham. Trent won 36-11 last time the teams met 10 months ago.
Manchester University claimed their second victory of the season last week as beat Edinburgh University 39-14 to move into the top three. This time out they host Worcester who have only won once all season and that came on the road against Edinburgh.

Northern 1A

The University of Liverpool won 22-29 against Leeds 2nds last week and the third placed side host Leeds Beckett University (Carnegie) Mens 2nd tomorrow. If the Merseyside outfit win tomorrow they move ahead of Leeds Beckett in the table and could find themselves within two points of leaders Sheffield. Liverpool lost 8-14 when the sides last locked horns in March of this year.

Northern 2A

Manchester Met will be hoping to carry their recent good form into cup action this week as they welcome Lancaster University 2nds to Broughton Park. The hosts made it three wins from three last week beating city rivals the University of Manchester 2nds 24-5. They are now sitting six points clear at the top of the league. In terms of Lancaster, they are yet to win a game this season and are bottom of Northern 3A. They made it to the second of this competition last season whereas Man Met fell at the fourth hurdle.

UCLAN and Edge Hill are not in action this week, but the sides meet next Wednesday in Ormskirk for the Lancashire derby. Third placed UCLAN may have taken notes from Tonga’s international rugby team as they have been using the University’s facilities to prepare for their upcoming Autumn Internationals. As for Edge Hill, they were back playing rugby last week, but were beaten 20-10 by Liverpool 2nds at the Wyncote Sports Ground. They will be hoping to return to winning ways in seven days’ time.