BUCS Rugby Union - Christmas Break Approaches

We are now in the penultimate week of 2014 BUCS Rugby Union action and after last week’s mixture of cup and league fixtures, we are firmly focusing on league matches once again and Talking Rugby Union looks ahead to the best of the action.

Premier South A

After being top of the table before the start of play last Wednesday, Bath found themselves in fourth come Wednesday evening as they were beaten 17-24 by Hartpury College at the Sullis Club. This was their second defeat at home in  six matches and both have been at the hands of Hartpury who have now beaten Bath on the last seven occasions. Bath are not in action this week, but will look to return to winning ways next Wednesday away at Swansea University.

Hartpury hit back immediately from their defeat to Exeter with this win and moved up to second place. This week they host Cardiff University who they did lose to 15-13 earlier in the season, but have won five of the last seven meetings between the sides. As for Cardiff, they are third in the league and have won their last four matches, but they have all been at home.

With the Bath’s result against Hartpury, it meant that Exeter returned to the top of the tree in Premier South A as they beat Bristol 33-10 at the Topsham Sports Ground. This week they travel to Swansea in search of their seventh win of the season. Exeter have lost just once in their last four away league matches and have won the last three against Swansea. As for the Welsh side, they sit bottom of the division with just one win this season.

Premier North A

Leeds Beckett’s defeat to Loughborough a few weeks ago just seemed to be a blip in their season as they continue to lead the way in this league after beating Newcastle 3-34 last Wednesday. That made it their second win of the season against Newcastle and their seventh straight win over the North East outfit.

Leeds Beckett now have a seven point gap at the top of the table with a game in hand and host Nottingham this week. This is Leeds’ last game before the Christmas break so they will be looking to make it their sixth straight home league win. As for Nottingham they are sixth on the league, but claimed a superb win over Loughborough last week, but they haven’t won away in seven matches.  

As for Newcastle, they have slipped down the table into fifth position after that defeat to Leeds Beckett and will have to wait a week before they can put it right as they travel to Loughborough in seven days’ time.

Durham took advantage of Newcastle’s defeat they beat bottom side Leeds University 17-23 last Wednesday. This was Durham’s eighth consecutive win against Leeds and this week play local rivals Northumbria. If Durham win it will be their third win in a row and they will go ahead of Northumbria into third. Durham were victorious 30-27 back in November 2013 the last time the sides met in Durham.

Finally, the University of Leeds travel to Loughborough hoping to claim their second win of the season and their first away win in eight matches. They are up against a Loughborough side who find themselves second in the league, but suffered their first defeat in three last week. Loughborough won 0-27 in October in the first clash between these sides this season.

Premier North B

Nottingham Trent were in cup action last week after back to back league defeats, but returned to winning ways on Wednesday as they beat Leeds Beckett 2nds 37-18  to advance into the last 16 of the cup where they will face fellow Premier North B side Manchester University in February.  Trent are back on league duty this week as they welcome Birmingham to the Clifton Grass Pitches. They have lost just once at home in their last 13 matches and will need to find that form once again.

As for Birmingham, they are fifth in the league with three wins to their name this season and they have lost on their last two visits to Nottingham.

Manchester University were also back with a win in the cup as they beat the University of Glasgow 1sts 27-15. Manchester lost their last league match against an in form Bishop Burton College and this week they host the University of York. Manchester won 41-10 in this corresponding fixture last season and with York currently winless this season and rock bottom of this division, you wouldn’t bet against a similar outcome.

Northern 1A

The University of Liverpool’s weren’t in action last week, but return this week as they take on Sheffield Hallam. Liverpool lost last time out against league leaders Sheffield University, but will be hoping to get back to winning ways. Hallam haven’t won a league game all season and Liverpool will want that to remain the same despite Hallam beating Liverpool on the last two occasions.

Northern 2A

Manchester Met seem unstoppable in the league at the minute, but they were beaten in the cup last week by Hull 15-16 to end their 100 per cent to the season. An incredibly close game with MMU leading until the 77 minute mark; the TalkingRugbyUnion cameras were there. This week its back to what they have done best so far this season as they host Edge Hill in the league. Man Met have lost just one of their last eight league matches and won this fixture 21-17 last season.

In terms of Edge Hill, they have now won their last two matches after sealing a quarter-final place in the cup as they narrowly beat York 2nds 22-20. They are currently fourth in the table and have not won in their last two away games.

UCLAN’s record of one win in their last 20 is something that they need to get rid of and fast, but it was on full display last week in the cup as they were beaten 0-42 by Durham 4ths. They will have to wait a little longer to see if they can end this terrible run as they face Liverpool 2nds next week.