BUCS Super Rugby: Late drama, big wins and a huge Round Six clash ahead
Loughborough go to unbeaten league leaders Hartpury in Round Six
©BUCS Super Rugby / Ben Lumley
TRU’s Adam Gaston with the latest from BUCS Super Rugby as he turns his attention to November’s opening fixtures, which include a mouth-watering clash between two of the league’s top three.
Exeter snatch dramatic late victory against Brunel
Exeter (4th) produced a late comeback to snatch a 38-36 victory over Brunel (5th) at Ealing Sports Park in a thrilling BUCS Super Rugby encounter.
Both sides came into the fixture looking to build on positive starts to their seasons, and an entertaining contest lived up to expectations, with the result remaining in doubt until the final moments.
Brunel made the perfect start, earning a penalty try inside the opening two minutes. Two Will Lane penalties brought Exeter back into contention before an overthrown lineout from Dexter Randle gifted Joe Smart an opportunity to extend Brunel's lead. The hosts were 12-6 ahead after 18 minutes.
However, Exeter responded almost immediately. The elusive Lane caused problems for the Brunel defence before offloading to Elijah Taylor, who crossed for the visitors' first try. Lane added the conversion to give Exeter a narrow 13-12 lead.
Brunel hit back through Henri Burditt, who finished another powerful driving maul, a weapon that has proved particularly effective for the hosts so far this season.
Exeter responded in kind, with Randle crossing from a maul before another Lane penalty extended their advantage to 23-17 at half-time.
The visitors continued where they had left off after the break, with Archie Kane powering over following a strong collective effort to give Exeter some breathing space at 30-17.
But Brunel refused to go away. Two driving-maul tries, either side of a powerful score from Darren Low, turned the game on its head in the space of 10 minutes.
Suddenly, the hosts were 36-30 ahead with 20 minutes remaining.
Lane's penalty reduced the deficit and set up a tense final quarter, with Exeter beginning to turn the screw through their forward pack.
Exeter set up another driving maul and, after making significant ground, it was replacement Felix Starkey who eventually powered over to put the visitors back in front. Lane was unable to add the conversion, leaving Exeter with a slender 38-36 advantage.
Brunel had one final chance to snatch victory, but scrum-half George Newman produced a crucial tackle to force Loic Keasey into touch and seal a dramatic Exeter win.
It was a huge result for Exeter, who showed tremendous resilience to withstand sustained pressure away from home and find a way to win. They welcome Cardiff to Devon on Wednesday.
For Brunel, a trip to struggling Durham offers an opportunity to return to winning ways.
Loughborough too strong for Durham
Loughborough (3rd) maintained their impressive form with a 35-26 victory over Durham (9th) in a classic BUCS Super Rugby encounter in the East Midlands.
Both sides have pedigree in the competition, but it was Loughborough who ultimately proved too strong, despite a spirited Durham fightback.
Durham arrived still searching for their first league win of the season but made an excellent start. A clever set-piece move created an opportunity for Harry Dawson to break through, before offloads from Lucas Rowell and Charles Hefferon found Will Windows, who crossed for the opening try after five minutes.
However, the visitors' advantage was short-lived. A long kick downfield caused confusion between Rory Telfer and Rowell, allowing Oscar Cawley to gather the loose ball and race home. Loughborough led 7-5 after nine minutes.
The game continued to swing from end to end, with Telfer restoring Durham's advantage before Cawley crossed for his second try of the afternoon.
Loughborough began to take control as half-time approached, with Jack Murphy and the in-form Ralfie Willott both getting over the line to give the hosts a 28-12 lead at the break.
Durham needed a response and found one 15 minutes into the second half. A sustained period of pressure and territory eventually created an opportunity for Sam Graham to score from close range. Louie Platt added the conversion to reduce the deficit to 28-19.
The visitors then threatened to make things particularly uncomfortable for Loughborough. A clever kick through was chased down by Rowell, who showed excellent footballing skills to gather the ball and score. Platt's conversion brought Durham to within two points.
But Loughborough responded at a crucial moment. With 12 minutes remaining, Durham conceded a costly penalty on their own 15-metre line as the hosts looked to the corner.
The resulting driving maul provided the platform for replacement Jack Marshall to cross for an important try. Ben Webb added the conversion.
Durham pushed hard for another score but could not find a way through, with a late Platt penalty drifting wide as Loughborough held on for a 35-26 victory.
It was a frustrating defeat for Durham given the positions they had worked themselves into. They will now look towards a home fixture against Brunel as an important opportunity to get their season moving.
Loughborough, meanwhile, march on. A top-of-the-table clash against Hartpury awaits in what promises to be a fascinating Round Six encounter.
Hartpury maintain perfect start with victory at Leeds Beckett
Hartpury (1st) made it five wins from five in BUCS Super Rugby with a 40-26 victory over Leeds Beckett (8th), maintaining their position at the top of the table.
The visitors arrived in Leeds looking to extend their perfect start, but faced a difficult away test against a Beckett side always capable of making life uncomfortable on home soil.
Hartpury made an excellent start, with prolific forward Jack Gilbert opening the scoring from an early driving maul after eight minutes.
The visitors then showed their attacking variety. Krystof Wood capitalised on a mix-up in the Beckett backfield to cross for Hartpury's second before Gilbert added another, giving the away side a commanding 19-0 lead after 25 minutes.
Leeds Beckett eventually found a response through Freddie Kenyon, with Hartpury's Spencer Huntley sent to the sin-bin as the hosts looked to build some momentum before the break.
But any hopes of a comeback were quickly checked by Ajay Edwards. The Hartpury back latched onto a Bruno Lamb grubber kick inside the 22 to score, demonstrating the visitors' quick thinking and clinical execution. Hartpury went into half-time with a 26-7 advantage.
With Huntley back on the field, the visitors rediscovered their rhythm after the restart. Math Jones took advantage of an overlap to cross for Hartpury's fifth try.
Beckett refused to surrender, however, and two converted tries brought them back into the contest. Kenyon and Dan Wills both crossed, with Jack Greig adding the conversions as the hosts' set-piece dominance began to cause Hartpury problems.
At 33-21 after 60 minutes, the game was suddenly back in the balance.
But Hartpury's response was decisive. With 10 minutes remaining, Gilbert completed his hat-trick to secure the victory. A clever transfer at the maul saw the forward take the ball down the short side rather than through the middle, catching the Beckett defence off guard. Jones added the conversion to take Hartpury beyond 40 points.
Beckett did manage a late consolation through Joe Atkinson, but the final score was 40-26 to the visitors.
Hartpury make it five wins from five and remain the team to beat at the top of the table. Their upcoming meeting with Loughborough should provide a significant test of their title credentials.
For Beckett, there were positives despite the defeat, particularly their second-half response. They will now look to turn that performance into points when they host struggling Cardiff Met on Wednesday.
Bath claim victory after first-half blitz against Cardiff Met
The University of Bath (2nd) produced a ruthless first-half display to secure an important 38-14 victory over Cardiff Met (10th) at The Yard, extending their strong start to the BUCS Super Rugby season.
The varsity rivals came into the fixture in contrasting positions, with Bath looking to keep pace with league leaders Hartpury and Met searching for their first win of the campaign.
The visitors made a positive start, enjoying early territory and possession, but Bath's defence stood firm under waves of pressure.
And sure enough, it was the hosts who struck first.
An excellent break from Alex Yeabsley, following a pass from Max Hooper, took Bath into the Cardiff Met 22. Quick thinking from Ieuan Davies then created the opening, with a well-judged cross-kick finding Harry Walker in space to score. Hooper added the conversion to make it 7-0 before the 15-minute mark.
Bath soon struck again. Met's aggressive defensive line left space to exploit, and Bailey Cutts found a gap before eventually releasing Jack Woods, who put Sam Winters over for the hosts' second try.
Cutts then got on the scoresheet himself before Jasper Spandler crossed for Bath's fourth, completing a devastating first-half spell.
At 24-0 at the break, it was a harsh scoreline for Met, but a clinical display from the champions.
Cardiff Met eventually found a response 13 minutes into the second half, with powerful number eight Rhys Spavins crossing for their opening try.
Dylan D'Arcy followed up just a minute later, raising hopes of an unlikely comeback as Met cut the deficit to 24-12.
However, Bath showed the composure expected of the reigning champions, taking control of the contest and refusing to allow the visitors to build further momentum.
Tries from Walker and Will Keylock eventually put the result beyond doubt.
The win keeps Bath in touch with Hartpury at the top of the table, with Aaron James' side three points behind. They now travel to Nottingham for another challenging away fixture.
For Cardiff Met, the search for a first win continues. A trip to Leeds Beckett, who are also struggling near the bottom of the table, could prove an important opportunity to get points on the board.
Cardiff hold off late Nottingham fightback in home victory
Cardiff University (6th) held their nerve to secure a 36-31 victory over Nottingham (7th) in an entertaining contest at Llanrumney.
The two sides produced a thriller in this fixture last season, and there was plenty of drama again, with Cardiff ultimately doing enough to secure the points.
The hosts made a flying start. A break from Lloyd McEwan-Peters created the opening, with Finn Charles finding an onrushing Max Truby to cross for the opening try inside two minutes. Llew O'Brien added the conversion to give Cardiff a 7-0 lead.
The hosts soon extended their advantage. A clever kick from Jack Thomas was not dealt with by Nottingham, allowing Ollie Das to keep the ball in play before kicking ahead into the 22. Thomas followed up to score Cardiff's second.
Nottingham responded through Ozzy Edwards, who crossed from a driving maul to get the visitors on the scoreboard.
But Cardiff continued to take their opportunities. Owen Popple crossed from another maul before Josh Twigg added a fourth try from close range, securing the hosts a bonus point before the interval.
Cardiff went into half-time with a commanding 26-7 advantage.
The hosts applied the early pressure after the restart, but it was Nottingham who struck first. Julian Nunn found space on the outside and produced an excellent finish to reduce the deficit to 26-14 just five minutes into the second half.
Cardiff then responded 10 minutes later through Tom Unsworth. The centre showed excellent footwork to find his way over from close range, restoring a 19-point advantage.
Nottingham refused to go away, however, and Ewan Caven gave the visitors renewed hope with a late score.
Nunn then crossed for his second try of the afternoon, bringing Nottingham to within five points at 33-28 with fewer than five minutes remaining.
With the momentum shifting towards the visitors, Cardiff needed a response. O'Brien duly delivered, slotting a penalty to take the game beyond a converted try and give the hosts some breathing space.
A late penalty from Matty Cooke secured Nottingham a second bonus point, but their trip to the Welsh capital ended in defeat.
Cardiff have made a decent start to the season with two wins and a draw on the board so far. They will look to give Exeter a challenge when they head to Devon this week.
Nottingham welcome the champions to Highfields in a testing Round Six match.
Round 6 - 04/11/2026
Nottingham vs Bath
Durham vs Brunel
Exeter vs Cardiff
Leeds Beckett vs Cardiff Met
Hartpury vs Loughborough
