2014/15 BUCS Review, Round 8: Preview

Week eight of BUCS Rugby Union has arrived and we have some league fixtures, but mainly it’s all about the cups as we draw closer to the business end of the competitions.

Premier South A

Top of the table Bath were stunned last week as they came back from Cardiff University empty handed after being beaten 28-15 in Wales. This ended a four game winning run for Bath, but for Cardiff they have now won their last four home matches. Bath remain a point clear at the summit of Premier South A and this week welcome Hartpury College to the Sullis Club. Their last defeat at home came against Hartpury in February of this year.

Hartpury will want to bounce back as they were also beaten last week as they lost to second placed Exeter 15-20. They currently lie in fourth, but have beaten Bath on the last six occasions.

In terms of Exeter, that was an important win for them after they were beaten by Cardiff 16-18 a couple of weeks ago which ended their unbeaten start to the season. They are now one point behind Bath in the division and this week welcome sixth placed Bristol to the Topsham Sports Ground. Exeter have won their last 13 home matches, but were beaten by Bristol 10-25 earlier this season. That was the away side’s only win so far this campaign.

Premier North A

After losing their 100 per cent start to the season to Loughborough, Leeds Beckett responded immediately last Wednesday and did it in style as they ran in nine tries to beat city rivals Leeds University 55-25. They are now four points clear at the top of the league with games in hand and travel up North on Wednesday to take on Newcastle who they beat 40-9 in October. They have won the last six times they have faced Newcastle.

As for Newcastle, they also bounced back from defeat as they beat bottom side Nottingham 7-22 at Highfields to make it their third win in a row against Nottingham. They will be hoping to end this Leeds Beckett hoodoo on Wednesday afternoon.

Fifth placed Durham take on sixth placed Leeds on Wednesday. Durham weren’t in action last week but will be looking to build on their last win when they beat Newcastle 15-12 two weeks ago. They travel to Yorkshire searching for their seventh straight win against Leeds who have won just once all season, but that did come at home. Durham seem to be firm favorites for this one.

Premier North B

Nottingham Trent were narrowly defeated by Durham 2nds 32-36 two weeks ago and they suffered the same outcome last week in Edinburgh as they were beaten 16-15. This was their second defeat in a row after an unbeaten start to the season and will be hoping this week’s cup tie against Leeds Beckett 2nds at home can bring them better fortunes. They only made the third round last season and will be looking for a place in the last 16 on Wednesday. Leeds Beckett 2nds are in Northern 1A and are currently in 2nd place but have only won two of their last seven away matches.

Manchester University’s three game winning streak was ended by Bishop Burton College away from home last Wednesday as they lost 29-17. They now sit fourth and like Nottingham Trent, they are also in cup action this week as they host the University of Glasgow 1sts.  Manchester didn’t get over the first hurdle last year having been knocked out by Newcastle 2nds. As for Glasgow they sit fifth in Scottish 1A with just one win all season which came last week against Aberdeen.  They have lost their last six away matches and lost on their last visit to England a year ago in the cup against Newcastle 2nds.

Northern 1A

The University of Liverpool’s three game winning run came to an end last week as they lost the top of the table clash against Sheffield 1sts 29-15. They are not in action this week, but play Sheffield’s neighbours Sheffield Hallam in the first week of December.

Northern 2A

Manchester Met are in scintillating form and that continued last week when they beat second placed Keele 10-14 in Staffordshire to keep up their 100 per cent start in all competitions. They return to cup action this week as they welcome the University of Hull 1sts to Broughton Park. Man Met went to the fourth round of this competition last season, but were beaten by Northumbria 2nds. As for Hull, they have won all three of their league matches so far this campaign and have won their last two away matches. With a place in the Quarter-Finals up for grabs, one 100 per cent start to the season will be broken on Wednesday.

UCLAN had a record of one win in their last 18 matches heading into their game with Edge Hill last week and it was made worse as Edge Hill narrowly won 17-15 to go ahead of UCLAN in the table. This week the Lancashire side is also involved in the cup as Durham 4ths come to town. It would be the perfect time for UCLAN to get a win as it is for a place in the last eight of the competition. However it won’t be that straight forward as Durham have won every game this season in Northern 3B and have only lost once in their last 17 matches. They also won 3B last year and reached round five of this competition.

As for Edge Hill that win against UCLAN was their first in two matches and it will give them a confidence boost heading into their cup tie at home with York 2nds. Edge Hill only made it to round three last season and they have actually won their last 10 home matches. In terms of York 2nds they sit fifth in Northern 3B with just one league win all season and beat Liverpool 3rds in the last round of the cup.