BUCS Rugby: The mid-season report

We are now just four months away from one University being crowned the best team in the land, but at the mid-season break, who is in the best position to be lifting that Champions Trophy in March?

As well as that, other teams across the country will have their sights set on promotion while some will be battling relegation so Talking Rugby Union takes a look at the state of play in our selected BUCS leagues heading into 2016.

Premier North A

For sure Loughborough would have been disappointed to lose in last year’s Champions Trophy Final, but the fact that they have responded in such a positive manner is a credit to their side.

The Midlands outfit were pipped to the post by Leeds Beckett last season, but in this campaign they have been unstoppable. They lead Premier North A by four points heading into the New Year but much more importantly, they have won all eight of their matches this season. They are certain for a shot at Twickenham this term.

Behind them are Leeds Beckett who have suffered two defeats this season – both against Loughborough, but a 40-5 win against their rivals Leeds University yesterday keeps them well in the hunt for the Premier North A crown.

I don’t think they are in any danger of not being involved in the Champions Trophy games as they look to retain their title and they maybe also quick to point out that they won the Champions Trophy having lost to Loughborough twice last season.

Occupying the other Champions Trophy places at the moment are Newcastle and Durham. Newcastle have already secured their place while Durham know one more victory will give them a chance of playing at Twickenham in March.

Northumbria are the only other side that can challenge those all-important top four places but realise that if Durham beat Leeds Beckett at the end of January, their dream of playing at the home of English rugby will come to an end.

Northumbria may be more concerned by what is happening behind them as they are only seven points clear of the relegation zone. Leeds University are in 6^th place having won one of their eight games this season while below them are Nottingham who have lost all eight of their matches, but have picked up two bonus points. Two more defeats for Notts will see them drop into a play-off to stay in this division.

Premier South A

Another team that is in sensational form are Exeter, who like Loughborough, lead their respective league and they have also won all eight of their games this season. Exeter fell at the semi-final stage last season as they lost out to Loughborough, but the current Premier South A champions are certainly on course to retain their title and continue their journey to Twickenham.

Hartpury College also failed to get past the last four stage last season and the 2013/14 Champions Trophy winners have once again booked their place in the knockout stages after winning seven of their eight matches this season. They are just a point behind Exeter so that title race will go down to the wire, but their main focus will be lifting that Champions Trophy under the lights in March.

Cardiff Met and Bath both joined Loughborough and Hartpury as the representatives from Premier South A in the Champions Trophy finals last season and are both in prime position to do it again. Neither side are mathematically there just yet, but one more win for both sides would be enough for them to seal their place.

The only side that could make an unlikely assault on the Champions Trophy places are Bristol, but their margin for error is slim. They are nine points off 4^th place so they must win their final two games to stand any chance. Also, they are a side still in danger of the drop and if Cardiff and the University of South Wales begin 2016 in the right frame of mind, they could be dragged into a relegation fight.

Premier North B

Like their 1^st XV side, Loughborough 2nds lead the way in their league and also boast a 100 per cent record. They have won all seven of their matches and are a point clear at the top heading into the Christmas break.

Bishops Burton are breathing down their necks as a 13-10 win over Nottingham Trent means the current Premier North B champions have won seven of their games this season as they look to go one better this term after falling in the Premier North A play-off against Leeds last season.

Trent are certainly not out of the question either. They are just four points behind Loughborough, but the league leaders have two games in hand over them. They also have a BUCS Trophy Round of 16 tie to come in 2016 so they are still on for some silverware this season.

Durham 2nds look set for a mid-table finish as they are 11 points behind Nottingham Trent while it is a little more tense for Birmingham and Worcester. Both are just three points clear of a the drop zone while Manchester sit 7^th on 11 points. Below them it looks bleak for St Andrews as they are 12 points from safety, but do still have seven games to play.

Northern 1A

After finishing 4th last season, not many people would have expected Durham 3rds to be topping Northern 1A as we approach Christmas. Durham are four points clear at the top having won all six of their matches and have Leeds Beckett 2nds and the impressive Hull behind them in the table, with the Humberside team having won four of their seven games after being promoted into this division last season.

Newcastle 2nds are just six points behind Durham in 4^th place, but it is a surprise to see last season’s top two below that. Runaway champions Sheffield find themselves nine points off the pace having won four of their eight games this season while Liverpool are just above them after a 25-15 win yesterday against Manchester Met.

Man Met occupy the first relegation place as they have won just twice this season and are 10 points off safety while York are 12 points adrift having won once this campaign.

Midlands 1A

For the first few weeks of the season, this league was dominated by Leicester, but two defeats in their last three matches as seen them slip down to third. Their dip in form as allowed another Loughborough side – this time their 3^rd XV – to take control, as they are currently level on points with Warwick at the top of Midlands 1A.

It has been a vast improvement for Loughborough who finished 4^th last term and six wins from eight sees them lead the way at the close of 2015. Warwick ended up in 2^nd place last year and are currently their again, but with just three points separating the top three sides, this title race is bound to hot up next year.

Away from the summit, Harper Adams and Nottingham 3rds are five points clear of the danger positons with bonus points being the key to that. The reason I say this is because Oxford Brooks have the same record as Nottingham 3rds, but are three points behind and just two outside the drop zone which is where Nottingham 2nds reside having won two of their seven games this campaign.

But, there is unlikely to be Christmas cheer for Coventry 1sts who sit bottom of Midlands 1A with no wins to their name and are 14 points from safety with six games remaining. It’s a big mountain to climb in 2016 for the newly promoted side.

Northern 2A

Relegation from Northern 1A would have been tough to take for Lancaster, but they have responded magnificently in the first half of this season. They lead Northern 2A by eight points having won all five of their matches so far. They know that three more wins will win them the title as Keele, UCLan and even Chester continue to play catch-up.

Liverpool 2nds are seven points behind the teams hunting down Lancaster as they aim to move away from the danger places in this division with Edge Hill struggling at the bottom with just one win from their six matches this season.

Midlands 2A

The race for promotion in Midlands 2A is shaping up quite nicely with Nottingham Trent 2nds and Harper Adams 2nds separated by just three points. Both sides have won five of their six games, but Trent have picked up maximum bonus points in those victories

Watching the battle from afar are Lincoln who are just five points behind Harper Adams and certainly have clear water between themselves and the rest of the pack.  

Nottingham 4ths and Warwick 2nds are 13 points adrift of Lincoln with both teams winning on just one occasion so far this campaign while Derby 1^st (Buxton) have had a difficult season as they are winless at the foot of this division with a -194 points difference to their name.