Exeter continue charge and Leeds Beckett keep the pressure on
UCLan sealed their third win of the campaign with an away win over struggling Edge Hill
©TRU
After cup fixtures last Wednesday, all seven of our featured leagues were back in action this week but there was no change at the top of Premier South A as Exeter continued their charge.
Bath and Cardiff Met remain in the Championship Trophy places while in the North, Leeds Beckett have closed the gap on table toppers Loughborough who weren’t involved this week.
Elsewhere, Nottingham Trent and Bishops Burton have cranked the pressure up on Loughborough 2nds, it’s all change at the top of Midlands 1A and Durham 3rds continue to march on in Northern 1A.
Premier North A
League leaders Loughborough University weren’t in action this week which allowed Leeds Beckett to reduce the gap
They didn’t need a second invitation as they crossed six times on their way to a 14-34 win over Northumbria University. Beckett are now just three points behind Loughborough, with their only defeat this season coming against the Midlands side.at the top of the table.
As for Northumbria, they have now played the most games in Premier North A (8) but have only mustered up one win so far as they lie 5th in the table.
Below the top two sides are Durham University who secured their fourth win of the season as they comfortably saw off the University of Nottingham 52-5 who remain bottom of this division. The hosts ran in nine tries with the pick of the scores coming from Bobby Keith. Nottingham have now lost all seven of their games this season.
Newcastle University kept the pressure on Durham as they came away from Yorkshire with a 24-7 win over the University of Leeds. The home side opened the scoring, but Newcastle blew their opponents away to seal their fifth win of the campaign. Leeds Uni remain five points clear of the relegation zone with just one victory to their name this season.
Results
Northumbria University 14-34 Leeds Beckett
Durham University 52-5 University of Nottingham
Newcastle University 24-7 University of Leeds
Table
|
BUCS Premier North A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Played |
Points |
|
| 1 |
|
Lougborough 1st |
|
7 |
32 |
|
| 2 |
|
Leeds Beckett 1st |
|
7 |
29 |
|
| 3 |
|
Durham 1st |
|
7 |
21 |
|
| 4 |
|
Newcastle 1st |
|
6 |
16 |
|
| 5 |
|
Northumbria 1st |
|
8 |
9 |
|
| 6 |
|
Leeds 1st |
|
|
6 |
7 |
|
| 7 |
|
Nottingham |
|
7 |
2 |
|
Premier South A
With Hartpury College not in action this weekend, it meant the University of Exeter could extend their lead at the top of Premier South A and they did just that.
They made it eight wins in a row as they edged out the University of Bristol 14-0 thanks to a score either side of half-time. Exeter beat Bristol 3-33 earlier in the year and since then, they have kicked on as they chase Twickenham glory at the end of this season.
Exeter’s Alex Brown said: “We're proud of the 100% record but we are taking it game by game. There has been a few unexpected results already this season so we can't afford to let our foot off the gas.”
Bristol stay 5th in the division, but do have a comfortable gap between themselves and the bottom two despite only winning one of their last seven matches – a run that stretches back to the start of October.
A late penalty try saw the University of Bath snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as they won 21-20 at Sulis Club against Cardiff University to secure their fourth win in their last five matches.
Bath had beaten Cardiff 7-32 earlier in the campaign, but this was a much closer affair. Bath led 14-5 at half-time, but tries from Greg Heath and Tom Bell plus a penalty from Elliot had given them a 20-14 lead.
But with five minutes to go, Bath battered down the Cardiff defence and eventually were awarded a penalty try which they converted to seal the victory.
Cardiff Met battled to an impressive 32-3 win against the University of South Wales in atrocious conditions in this Welsh derby. Met have now won four of their eight games this season and remain in the Champions Trophy places while USW are still searching for their second victory since promotion last season having shipped over 200 points in their last four games.
Results
University of Exeter 14-0 University of Bristol
University of Bath 21-20 Cardiff University
University of South Wales 3-32 Cardiff Met
Table
|
BUCS Premier South A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Played |
Points |
| 1 |
|
Exeter 1st |
|
8 |
36 |
| 2 |
|
Hartpury 1st |
|
7 |
30 |
| 3 |
|
Bath 1st |
|
|
9 |
24 |
| 4 |
|
Cardiff Met 1st |
|
7 |
15 |
| 5 |
|
Bristol 1st |
|
9 |
15 |
| 6 |
|
Cardiff 1st |
|
7 |
7 |
| 7 |
|
USW 1st |
|
|
7 |
5 |
Premier North B
Table toppers Loughborough 2nds weren’t involved this week, but Nottingham Trent University are now just four points behind them as they recorded a 46-5 win over the University of Manchester.
The hosts led 12-5 at half-time and then proceeded to run in five further tries to clinch victory which firmly keeps them in the promotion hunt. As for Manchester, they remain in the bottom two and five points from safety having won just twice all season.
Following their 73-10 cup victory last week, Bishops Burton College continued their winning ways thanks to a 44-31 win over the University of Birmingham in a try fest in Beverley. Bishops Burton are now 3rd in the division having won six of their seven league matches this season while Birmingham have now lost five games this campaign.
Elsewhere, Durham 2nds won their first game in three as they beat the University of Worcester 20-5.
Results
Nottingham Trent University 46-5 University of Manchester
Bishops Burton College 44-31 University of Birmingham
Durham University 2nds 20-5 University of Worcester
Northern 1A
From Durham 2nds to Durham 3rds and they are flying in Northern 1A as they made it six wins from six as they beat Newcastle University 2nds 48-5 at Maiden Castle. The league leaders scored eight tries on their way to victory while Newcastle fell to their fourth defeat of the season.
Second placed Leeds Beckett 2nds are now nine points behind the runaway leaders after their impressive 10-22 away win over the University of Liverpool. Beckett have now won four of their six matches so far this campaign while Liverpool are languishing in 5th place after finishing in the runners-up spot in this division last season.
Current champions the University of Sheffield have struggled so far this campaign as they lie in 6th place having won just two matches before their clash with the University of York. However, they ended a run of one win in five league games with a 21-7 victory at home to York who have now lost their last three matches and remain in the relegation zone.
Result
Durham 3rds 48-5 Newcastle University 2nds
University of Liverpool 10-22 Leeds Beckett 2nds
University of Sheffield 21-7 University of York
Midlands 1A
The University of Leicester suffered back to back defeats as they were beaten by the University of Warwick 29-15 away from home. Leicester had previously won their opening five games to this season, but have now slipped to third place in the table after those two losses.
Warwick are level on points with Loughborough 3rds at the top of the table after Loughborough recorded a 36-18 win over Harper Adams College at Towers pitch. Loughborough have won five games this season and lead the way in Midlands 1A due to their inferior points difference of +217.
Elsewhere, there were away victories for the University of Nottingham 3rds and Oxford Brooks University as they beat Coventry University and University of Nottingham 2nds.
Results
University of Warwick 29-15 University of Leicester
Loughborough 3rds 36-18 Harper Adams College
Coventry University 5-65 University of Nottingham 3rds
University of Nottingham 2nds 15-20 Oxford Brooks University
Northern 2A
Our featured game in this week’s BUCS fixtures was the only game in Northern 2A and it was Edge Hill’s clash with UCLan.
It was the visitors who came away with a 27-5 win in very wet conditions. UCLan move up to 3rd with this win after securing their third win of the season while Edge Hill remain bottom after their fifth defeat of this campaign.
Result
Edge Hill 5-27 UCLan
Midlands 2A
Nottingham Trent University 2nds were dislodged from top spot in Midlands 2A as they weren’t involved in action this week.
In their absence, Harper Adams College 2nds are now at the summit of the division after running in 11 tries against the University of Derby in a 63-6 win. The other fixture in this division saw the University of Lincoln edge past the University of Warwick 2nds 19-17 to move third in the table after their sixth win of the season.
Results
Harper Adams College 2nds 63-6 University of Derby (Buxton)
University of Lincoln 19-17 the University of Warwick 2nds
