BUCS Super Rugby: Bath bounce back in style with Hartpury setting the early season pace
After last week's loss at Hartpury, champions Bath responded in Round Four
©Ben Lumley / BUCS Super Rugby
The champions tested after losing last week, and Durham and Cardiff Met staring at a winless start. There was much to prove in Round Four.
Bath back to their brutal best in Southwest derby
Bath (2nd) bounced back from last week's defeat to Hartpury in emphatic fashion, overpowering Exeter (5th) 43-21 in the 'Battle of the South-West.'
The hosts made an immediate statement, with scrum-half Ieuen Davies opening the scoring after five minutes. Connor Treacey created the opportunity with a smart pick outside the 22 before putting Davies through.
Bath struck again eight minutes later when Bailey Cutts finished a support line from Cameron Ward's beautiful offload to make it 14-0.
Exeter responded through Elijah Taylor after finding space out wide, but Bath soon restored their advantage. Max Hooper put Jack Woods over for his latest score in an impressive start to the season.
A sin-bin for Alex Yearbsley gave Exeter an opportunity to fight back, but it was Bath who scored next.
After Exeter inaccuracy relieved pressure, Davies linked with Sam Winters, who crashed over following another exchange between the pair. Ward then produced a crucial turnover on his own five-metre line to preserve Bath's 24-7 half-time lead.
Bath needed just three minutes after the restart to score again, Ward finishing a move involving Woods and Winters.
Exeter's line-out continued to malfunction, and Bath made them pay. Evan Jones broke from deep before later finishing another attack after replacement Mawgen Warren was sent to the sin-bin. Hooper's conversion stretched the lead to 29 points with 20 minutes remaining.
Harrison Osbourne added a seventh try as Bath passed 40 points, with James Linegar converting.
Exeter rallied late through replacement Ben Smith and Harry Woodman, but Bath held them up over the line in the closing stages to deny the visitors a try bonus point.
It was a statement response from Bath, whose power and ruthless finishing made last week's defeat feel a distant memory. Cardiff Met visit The Yard next.
Exeter had their opportunities inside the Bath 22 but repeatedly came up against a resolute defence. They'll regroup before travelling to face Brunel.
Hartpury maintain perfect start against struggling Durham
Hartpury (1st) maintained their perfect start to the season with a 55-38 victory over Durham (9th) in a high-scoring contest at Hollow Drift.
Durham made the brighter start, with Will Matthews finishing a flowing backline move involving Louie Platt and Rory Telfer.
Hartpury responded through winger Krystof Wood before full-back Hadyn Lewis capitalised on a loose ball in the Durham 22, hacking ahead and showing impressive pace to score.
Durham hit back through Yannick Reiss and Dom Wade, both converted by Platt, to lead 19-14.
Hartpury regained control through Wood and two tries from Troy Sullivan, but Telfer crossed in the closing moments of a breathless first half to keep Durham in touch at 33-26.
The visitors started the second half strongly, with prop Mason Ford powering over to extend their advantage. Hartpury's combination of forward strength and backline pace continued to cause problems, although Durham refused to go away.
Two further tries from Matthews, either side of a score for Hartpury replacement prop Kaiden Corbett, left the visitors 47-38 ahead with 10 minutes remaining.
But Math Jones settled the contest, adding a try and a penalty to complete the 55-38 victory.
Hartpury made it four wins from four and have collected maximum points, establishing themselves as genuine contenders as the league enters its first break. Leeds Beckett await next.
Durham showed plenty of attacking ambition but again conceded too many points to turn their efforts into a result. They face a testing trip to Loughborough when the league returns on October 28th.
Brunel hold on to secure late 40-38 win against Cardiff
Brunel (4th) secured a dramatic victory over Cardiff (6th) to make it three wins from four in their BUCS Super Rugby debut season.
The hosts struck first through Oliver Harding, who finished a well-timed out-to-in line from a Josh Pengilly pass. Cardiff responded through Dylan Line after a break from Max Truby, but Joe Baccarini restored Brunel's lead.
Cardiff then took control through tries from Josh Twigg and Line, whose driving-maul effort helped the visitors establish a 21-14 advantage. Brunel hit back through Loic Keasey from a maul, with Sam Gregory's conversion levelling the scores.
The first half finished with Cardiff on top. Tom Unsworth crossed after a powerful break from Owen Popple, before a late Llew O'Brien penalty gave the visitors a 31-21 half-time lead.
Keasey scored his second maul try shortly after the restart to bring Brunel back within three points. Line completed his hat-trick with Cardiff's fourth maul try, but Brunel refused to let the game slip away.
Sam Lewtas crossed before the hour to reduce it to 38-35, and sustained pressure eventually told when replacement prop Ptolemy Alleyne powered over to put Brunel ahead with six minutes remaining.
Cardiff had one final opportunity to snatch victory. After a yellow card for replacement hooker Joe Smart, the visitors turned down two penalty attempts in favour of the corner.
Their final driving maul looked certain to produce a try, but Brunel held firm on the line. Popple reached out to score but knocked the ball on, allowing the hosts to hold on for a memorable win.
Cardiff may rue their decision not to take the points, particularly given O'Brien's kicking accuracy on the day. Despite the defeat, two bonus points leave them on 11 points. They now have a two-week break before Nottingham visit Llanrumney.
For Brunel, three wins from four represents an outstanding start at this level. Exeter await in two weeks in a potentially important meeting between two sides in the top five.
Loughborough add to Met's early-season troubles
Loughborough (3rd) produced a clinical second-half display to beat Cardiff Met (10th) 35-24 at Cyncoed, extending their winning run to three games.
The first half was a cagey affair, with Rhys Hulse eventually opening the scoring for Loughborough after 17 minutes, sniping over from a well-worked maul.
Cardiff Met responded through hooker Jamie Longyear, who powered over from close range to leave the visitors 7-5 ahead at the break.
Both sides defended their 22 well after the restart, but Longyear struck again 15 minutes into the second half to put Met in front.
Their lead was short-lived. Adam Whalley was sent to the sin-bin for slowing down a promising Loughborough attack, and the visitors immediately took advantage. Monty Wells charged down an Owen Clewes clearance, allowing Davy Colbert to collect the loose ball and score.
Deja vu followed minutes later when Tommy Taylor charged down another kick, this time in his own half, before gathering and crossing. Ben Webb converted both tries to put Loughborough 21-12 ahead.
Siep Walta added a third try during the sin-bin period, giving the African Violet a crucial cushion.
Met fought back through Toby Lock and Gethyn Hunter, whose try following a series of offloads reduced the deficit to 28-24 with seven minutes remaining.
But Loughborough held their nerve. A knock-on and offside penalty handed them a final opportunity, and replacement Zander MacTaggart finished from the corner. Webb converted to seal the 35-24 win.
The African Violet secured a gritty victory at one of the league's toughest away grounds, underlining their early-season credentials. Durham visit next after the break.
For Met, ill-discipline proved costly as Loughborough scored three tries during Whalley's sin-bin period. They must regroup quickly if they are to turn their start around.
Nottingham claim first win of season in thriller
Nottingham (7th) claimed their first win of the season in dramatic fashion, beating Leeds Beckett (8th) 38-31 in a pulsating contest at Highfields.
Beckett opened the scoring through prop Lewys Perkins after a series of Nottingham penalties. The hosts eventually responded through blindside flanker Alex Kerr, who crossed from close range after the half-hour mark.
Fergus Mainey then put Nottingham on the front foot with a clever kick that forced Leeds full-back Diederick Verdaasdonk over his own line. From the resulting scrum, Kerr scored again to give Nottingham a 14-5 half-time lead.
Kerr completed his hat-trick shortly after the restart, with Matty Cooke converting to stretch the advantage to 21-5.
Beckett responded through co-captain Freddie Keith from a driving maul before scrum-half Toby Morley found centre Joe Bowman on an excellent out-to-in line. Jack Heard's conversion brought the visitors within two points at 21-19.
The sides then traded tries. Nottingham number eight Alfie Hoyles crossed before Sam Griffiths replied for Beckett, leaving the hosts 26-24 ahead with 12 minutes remaining.
Ben Beadle appeared to have given Nottingham breathing space, but Keith struck again for Beckett and Jack Firebrace converted to level the scores at 31-31 with eight minutes to go.
Nottingham found one final answer. A defensive gap opened on the left, allowing Jonty Nikols to break from outside the 22 before Thomas Cunningham followed on his shoulder to score the decisive try.
Nottingham held on to secure a much-needed first victory of the campaign. The result provides a timely boost before they travel to Cardiff University after the break.
For Beckett, the fightback was impressive, but they were unable to complete it. League leaders Hartpury visit next.
Round 5: (28/10/2026)
Bath vs Cardiff Met
Brunel vs Exeter
Cardiff vs Nottingham
Loughborough vs Durham
Leeds Beckett vs Hartpury
