BUCS Gallery - Manchester v Birmingham

A powerful first half forward display from Birmingham University proved to be the difference yesterday, as the Midlands side topped the BUCS Northern Premier B league with a 35-8 victory away at Manchester University.

A pair of forward dominated early first half tries for Birmingham set a gap between the two sides that was never recovered.

On a bitterly cold, wet and windy BUCS afternoon, the league’s joint leaders, Manchester and Birmingham, clashed for the first time this season.

Birmingham got the better of the first half, scoring three tries with just a penalty in reply.

In the Second stanza Manchester turned their game around and came out fighting after another early score from the visitors; however, the fight-back was not enough.

The home side did manage to cross the whitewash, but were defeated with a final score of 35-8.

A disappointed Manchester Head Coach, Thiu Barnard, spoke to Talking Rugby Union, and said that his side “just didn’t turn up in the first half.

“We just weren’t in the game at all in the first half and they got away from us. We played well and began to show what we could do in the second half, so I think the score line flatters them a bit; but, essentially it was the set piece and especially tackling that cost us the game.

“We’re away to Nottingham Trent next week and we’ll really need to improve in both of those areas if we are to get a win there and keep our league hopes alive.”

Coach Barnard added that “after all I think this is the most difficult league in BUCS rugby. In Premiership A there are a few teams that are leagues ahead of the others, but in this league, anyone can beat anyone on the day.”

Birmingham now sit top of the BUCS North B League with three wins from as many games; they welcome Edinburgh to the midlands next week.

Manchester are joint second on two wins, with Durham 2nds and Nottingham Trent who they travel to on Wednesday.