Women's BUCS Super Rugby: Late drama at Cyncoed and Hartpury make winning start
League champions Hartpury were pushed all the way by newcomers Surrey but ultimately came out on top
©BUCS Super Rugby / Ben Lumley
Cardiff Met snatch a dramatic draw against Brunel, Hartpury fight back to beat Surrey, and Exeter stage a surging comeback against Edinburgh in Women's BUCS Super Rugby.
Late drama as Cardiff Met secure draw against Brunel
Cardiff Met (1st) and Brunel (2nd) came into their Round Two clash off the back of confidence-boosting wins, but neither side could find a decisive breakthrough in an encounter that finished 12-12.
Having suffered a quarter-final defeat at the hands of Brunel in March, Cardiff Met came into the match looking for revenge.
However, it was Brunel who struck first. After a cagey opening 15 minutes, ill-discipline in defence handed the visitors an opportunity five metres from the line. A well-executed set-piece move found Evie Collingbourne, and the young Ealing and England age-grade flanker did the rest, powering over from close range.
Immy White added an excellent conversion from a tricky angle to give Brunel a 7-0 lead after 17 minutes.
Met were held up over the line just minutes later but eventually hit back through tighthead prop Grace Boyd. Poor guard defence at the maul and a smart peel from Maddie Hughes created the opening, with Hughes finding Boyd on the inside to score from five metres out. Saran Griffiths was unable to convert.
Met then conceded a penalty in a dangerous area, allowing Brunel back into the 22. Once again, Collingbourne proved the difference, scoring an almost identical try to her first to extend Brunel’s lead to 12-5.
Brunel enjoyed plenty of possession and territory in the third quarter but were unable to capitalise on several entries into the Met 22.
Ultimately, the second half became a story of missed opportunities and handling errors, with neither side able to find a breakthrough.
With inspiration needed, replacement prop Elizabeth Cook provided it for Cardiff Met, making a break into the 22 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Brunel intercepted her attempted offload but struggled to clear their lines. Eventually, a scrum penalty gave Met another opportunity, and the influential Hughes took a quick tap from eight metres out before powering over.
Crucially, Hughes added the conversion to level the scores at 12-12.
Brunel had further opportunities to snatch victory, but Met showed the “dog” that head coach Lisa Newton spoke about in pre-season, holding firm to secure a draw in a cagey but intriguing encounter.
For Cardiff Met, they will take a draw against a strong Brunel side who provided them with a stern challenge. They move on to face Surrey next week.
For Brunel, it will feel like a missed opportunity after several promising visits to the Met 22. However, Cyncoed is always a tough place to go. They return to the Welsh capital next week to face Cardiff University.
Hartpury complete second-half comeback to survive Surrey scare
Hartpury (4th) travelled east to face Surrey in their Women's BUCS Super Rugby opener, taking on a home side full of confidence after a thumping 45-5 win over Cardiff the previous week.
Hartpury full-back Charlotte Mansfield looked dangerous in the opening five minutes, and her kick ricocheted into the path of wing Abi Pritchard, who adjusted well to collect the ball and score inside the Surrey 22.
Hanna Marshall’s conversion fell short, leaving Hartpury 5-0 ahead after eight minutes.
The league champions looked dominant during the opening 24 minutes and came close to extending their lead when lock Penny Robinson was held up over the line in the 22nd minute.
However, Surrey showed the grit required in this league to stay in the contest and took their chance when it came.
Hartpury attempted to play out from inside their own 22 but overplayed, allowing Malene Bowden-Evans to intercept an offload and score her second try of the season. Niamh Oxley converted to give Surrey an unlikely lead.
That advantage was extended just four minutes later. Surrey found livewire wing Jojo Vosakiwaiwai in space, and she went around Hartpury hooker Chloe Butterworth on the outside before stepping inside two covering defenders and racing to the try line.
It was an early contender for try of the season. Oxley converted to extend the home side’s lead to 14-5 after 29 minutes.
With their tails up, Surrey continued to apply pressure towards the end of the first half. Bowden-Evans was denied a second try when she was held up over the line, but the hosts went into the break with a nine-point advantage.
Hartpury needed a response, and it came shortly after the restart. A short-range effort, which appeared to be scored by Rosin Maher, reduced the deficit, although Marshall was unable to add the conversion.
The visitors then took advantage of the shifting momentum. Following another maul, blindside flanker Grace Callaway peeled away to score in the left corner. Marshall made no mistake with the touchline conversion to put Hartpury 17-14 ahead.
Hartpury controlled much of the next 20 minutes and looked to put the game beyond Surrey with a fourth try, as their powerful forward play began to tell.
After a sustained period of pressure, Maher received the ball from a quick-tap penalty inside the 22 and set up a maul. The drive took Hartpury close to the line before Maher emerged from the collapsing maul, collected the ball at its base and scored her second try of the afternoon.
Marshall added the conversion to make it 24-14 with more than 15 minutes remaining.
Hartpury held on to secure the bonus-point 24-14 victory, showing the composure and adaptability expected of champions when put under pressure. They now turn their attention to next week’s meeting with Exeter.
For Surrey, pushing Hartpury so hard in only their second Women's BUCS Super Rugby match is an impressive achievement. They will take plenty of positives from the performance as they prepare to face Cardiff Met next week.
Exeter too strong for Edinburgh
Edinburgh (7th) travelled south to Devon looking to upset the odds against Exeter (5th), but a strong second-half performance from the hosts saw them pull away to secure a 39-21 victory.
It was a nightmare start for the visitors. An attempted clearance ended with a knock-on inside their own in-goal area, allowing Martha Rombach to capitalise and score the opening try. Charlotte Wreford was unable to convert.
After a difficult opening 20 minutes, Edinburgh hit back through Adele Parkinson, who stepped in off the wing to score and get her side on the board. Niamh Waters added the conversion to give the visitors the lead.
Exeter responded six minutes later through scrum-half Maddie Smith, who caught Edinburgh off guard with a quick tap penalty and finished the move. Wreford was unable to convert.
Edinburgh regained the lead on the half-hour mark with a powerful carry from the scrum by Catriona Moody. Waters again converted to make it 14-10 to the visitors.
Full of confidence, Edinburgh held out against a couple of Exeter attacks before springing an attack of their own.
Poppy Mellanby broke free from inside her own 22 and sent a huge kick deep into Exeter territory. Flying winger Anna Dennis won the race to the ball and continued her impressive start to the season by scoring, despite the efforts of covering defender Immy Latham to stop her.
Latham may have been fortunate to remain on the pitch after tackling Dennis without the ball.
Waters maintained her perfect kicking record to give Edinburgh a 21-10 lead before the break.
Eleven points behind, Exeter needed a response at Topsham Sports Ground.
After early pressure in the second half, Katherine Dyke scored from close range under the posts. She converted her own try to reduce the deficit.
Exeter began to build momentum and took advantage of Edinburgh’s struggles to contain their relentless attack. In the 53rd minute, Chiefs player Izzy Newnes Smith scored from another quick-tap penalty. Dyke missed the conversion, but Exeter moved ahead, 22-21.
With momentum now firmly on their side, Exeter struck again 10 minutes later. Replacement back Elsie Fairn finished off a first-phase scrum move, although the conversion was missed, leaving the hosts 27-21 ahead with 20 minutes remaining.
Further tries from Bea George and Elin Fielden, alongside a Dyke conversion, completed the comeback and secured a 39-21 victory for Exeter.
Exeter will be relieved to get their first win on the board. They showed quality and game management to take the match away from Edinburgh in the second half, and they will need to carry that form into next week’s trip to Hartpury.
For Edinburgh, there were positives in their first-half performance and the speed of their attack. However, they will need to sustain those levels for longer if they are to compete over the full 80 minutes. Next week’s visit from Loughborough will be a significant test.
Only three games this week with Loughborough vs Cardiff University postponed due to Cardiff injuries. The game is set to be rescheduled soon.
Round 3 fixtures: Next Wednesday
Cardiff vs Brunel
Surrey vs Cardiff Met
Edinburgh vs Loughborough
Hartpury vs Exeter
