Loughborough leave it late against Durham as pulsating BSR title race reaches stunning climax
Loughborough know victory next week at Bath would see them retain their BSR league crown
©BUCS Super Rugby / Flynn Duggan
With just two rounds to go in BUCS Super Rugby, we are witnessing one of the tightest title races in recent history, with Loughborough (1st) and Bath (2nd) trading wins as they both chase the league crown.
It was away fixtures for both sides this week, with Loughborough facing a tricky test at top-four hopefuls Durham (4th), a team determined to make a statement after back-to-back narrow defeats.
Durham, with a proverbial chip on their shoulder, started fast and led 28-21 at the break with four tries, including one from in-form scrum-half Will Windows.
With Louie Platt kicking well from the tee, it seemed Loughborough might slip up, but scores from Elliot Gourlay and Joe Denman kept them in contention.
Trailing with just minutes to go, loosehead prop Eric Nixon then crashed over to clinch a crucial bonus-point 42-38 victory for the African Violet, keeping their one-point lead at the top intact.
Meanwhile, Bath travelled to relegation-threatened Swansea (10th).
Swansea showed real grit, taking the lead in the 60th minute with two second-half scores, but the might of the Bath pack proved decisive, with well-executed maul tries from Max Pearce and Oscar Thomas securing a bonus-point 26-17 win.
At the Cabbage Patch, Cardiff Met (7th) maintained their strong recent form with a bonus-point 26-5 success over Leeds Beckett (8th), while captain Gus Patterson marked 75 appearances for the Archers.
Hartpury (6th) made it three wins in a row with a resounding 45-15 victory away to Cardiff University (9th).
For Cardiff, it was a missed opportunity to extend the gap over bottom-placed Swansea and close in on Leeds Beckett, who they face next week.
Nottingham (5th) bounced back from last week's 29-28 defeat to Swansea with a late flourish against Exeter (3rd), as tries from Julian Nunn and Fergus Mainey secured a 29-19 victory.
The result means Nottingham are now one point behind fourth-placed Durham with two games to go.
But all eyes will now be on next week’s meeting between Bath and Loughborough, which could well decide the destination of the league title.
Back in October, Loughborough won 42-26, but an away trip to face the ‘Brothers’ with the crowd against them promises to be a huge test. Could there be a better finish to this season?
BUCS Women’s Super Rugby (WBSR)
Hartpury (1st) celebrated their coronation as league champions with a victory over Exeter (3rd).
Tries from Katie Harrison, Ella Henderson, and co completed a sensational 19-point comeback, sealing a 31-24 win and a perfect season with maximum points.
Elsewhere, Cardiff University (7th) recorded their first win of the season against Edinburgh (6th), with two tries from centre Emily Moore helping them to a 19-14 success.
Despite being consigned to the bottom of the table, this victory will provide a boost for the Welsh side as they develop their squad.
Finally, Brunel (5th) continued their strong finish to the term with a shock 36-33 away win over Loughborough at the Rubber Crumb.
