2014/15 BUCS Review, Round 7: Preview

We are now entering the final weeks before the Christmas break in the BUCS Rugby Union leagues and Round Seven is upon us. Talking Rugby Union takes a look at some of the key encounters ahead of Wednesday’s action including three top of the table battles.

Premier South A

Exeter are back in action on Wednesday after not being involved last week. Last time they were beaten by Cardiff University 16-18 which ended their 100 per cent start to the season. Exeter dropped down to third due to Hartpury and Bath both winning last week, but do have a game in hand on both them. This week they travel to Hartpury College.

Their opponents on Wednesday made it three wins in a row beating Swansea University 12-48 running in six tries last week and Hartpury’s Alex Brown knows how important this game will be:
“We know this is the turning point in the season, we will have good momentum from our win against Swansea last week." He said.
“The fact that Exeter had a week off and will be without their 'loutish' fans is definitely in our favour. With home advantage, the boys are buzzing for a big game on Wednesday!??“Last week was a massive defensive effort again. We knew Swansea's a tricky place to go and win. Thankfully the weather held off and we came away with a bonus point.”

New league leaders Bath beat the University of Bristol 22-48 last week and will look to stay top after this round of fixtures as they travel to Wales to play Cardiff University on Wednesday. Bath have won their last four games and were victorious against Cardiff three weeks ago when they won 24-15. Cardiff lie in fourth and maybe a dark horse in this league. They have won their last three home matches. Bath's George Drury told us:
"Last week was probably our most composed performance as a team this season, with an accurate kicking came putting us in the right places. There was another strong performance from the forwards with Greg Palmer scoring two tries. Luke Huelin was sharp on his return from concussion."

Premier North A

There was a shock in this division last week as Leeds Beckett University were humbled 40-10 by Loughborough to end their 100 per cent start to the season. On Wednesday, they entertain city rivals Leeds University as they look to go back to the top of the table. As for Leeds University, they go into this away match having lost their last six on the road and with one win to their name all season. They sit in sixth positon and were thumped 43-10 in this fixture in October 2013.

After beating Northumbria in a local battle two weeks ago, the same couldn’t be said about Newcastle last Wednesday as they were edged out 15-12 by Durham.  This ended Newcastle’s three game winning run and was Durham’s first win in three weeks. This week Newcastle travel to bottom side Nottingham who have won only once this season. Newcastle have won the last two meetings between the universities, but were beaten on their last trip to Nottingham 37-5 in December 2013.
As for Durham, they aren’t in action this week and take on the University of Leeds in seven days’ time.

Premier North B

Nottingham Trent were narrowly defeated by Durham 2nds 32-36 at the Clifton Grass Pitches to end their unbeaten start to the season last week. They are now eight points behind Durham having played the same number of games. This week they head to Scotland to face the University of Edinburgh who have lost their last five in all competitions. Trent beat Edinburgh 35-30 last time they faced each other.
Manchester University made it three wins in a row last week as they beat bottom side Worcester. They take on newly promoted Bishop Burton College away from home on Wednesday who have started the season quite well as they sit fourth. The sides last met in the cup in November 2012. Manchester won 50-12 on that occasion.  

Northern 1A

The University of Liverpool have now won their last three league games after beating third placed side Leeds Beckett University (Carnegie) Mens 2nds 45-26 last week. They now prepare for a top of the table clash against Sheffield 1sts on Wednesday. Sheffield have won all five of their games this season and have not lost in 11 matches. This will be a tough ask for Liverpool who were narrowly beaten by Sheffield 29-30 last time the teams played one another.

Northern 2A

Manchester Met kept up their superb recent form as they romped to a 66-0 victory over Lancaster University 2nds at Broughton Park in the cup last week.  In terms of the league, Man Met have had a 100 per cent start to the season so far and travel to Keele University on Wednesday. This is another match-up between the two sides in a BUCS league this week and Keele have also won all three of their matches. It’s set to be a thrilling game between the sides as the last three matches have seen a win for both teams and a draw.

UCLAN and Edge Hill were not in action last week, but face each other Wednesday as third play fifth.  UCLAN may have taken notes ahead of this Lancashire derby from Tonga’s international rugby team as they have been using the University’s facilities to prepare for their upcoming Autumn Internationals. UCLAN have only won one of their last 18 matches and that came last time they were in action against Liverpool 2nds. (A number of those defeats were down to UCLAN not being able a field a side.) As for Edge Hill, they were beaten 20-10 by Liverpool 2nds last time out and have lost their last two.