As the league campaign of other sports comes to an end, BUCS rugby union powers on, still providing entertainment as the 2021/22 campaign reaches the business end. After this week’s round of fixtures, only one remains in the women’s Premier National, with the men’s Super Rugby teams still having three games to play. Although nothing is set in stone, the final league standings are certainly beginning to take shape. This week’s action did hold that extra edge which becomes commonplace towards the end of the season, as teams begin to know what they’re fighting for. Freshered has all you need to know from the action, which wasn’t short of tries, hard-hitting tackles, and all-round high quality play.
Men’s Super Rugby
The top flight of men’s university rugby union this season has certainly lived up to its name, with the action providing a great deal of high-octane action to the crowds who dedicate their Wednesday afternoons to supporting their university. Durham were able to maintain their place at the top of the table, despite a closer win than expected against 5th placed Hartpury. They move to 64 points with a 20-15 victory, with second placed Exeter still just a point behind. A 745-mile round trip to Northumbria was rewarded with a 26-12 victory, moving the Devon side to 63 points, with their title hopes buoyed by their superior points difference.
On the recieving end of a defeat yet again, Northumbria remain rooted to the bottom of the table. They have been on the wrong side of the scoresheet 14 times already this season, with a relegation playoff looking inevitable for the northern side. The situation is worsened as the two teams above them, Cardiff and Leeds Beckett, both have games in hand. It would take something of a miracle for survival from this position. In the other fixtures, third placed Loughborough disposed of Bath 33-7, and Swansea prevailed in the South Wales derby, earning a close 23-17 win against Cardiff Met.
Women’s Premier National
Only two games took place in the top flight of women’s university rugby union this week. However, the importance of one of the fixtures in particular makes up for this. Second place Loughborough travelled to top of the league Durham, positioned only three points behind them, knowing an away win would fuel their title charge. However, Durham had earned their current standing, only being defeated once in the league all season. There might have been some nerves in the Durham camp in spite of this impressive record; their loss had come in the reverse fixture.
Those nerves would have been put to bed at full time, as an inspired all-round performance saw Durham come out 22-5 victors, extending their lead at the top to six points. The strong defense, able to limit free-scoring Loughborough to just one try, deserves immense credit; they have conceded on average just over 7 points a game this season. This win certainly edges Durham closer to the title.
In the other fixture in the women’s Premier National, third place Hartpury kept up the pressure on Loughborough, closing down the gap to just one point. They made the 670 plus mile round trip to fourth place Edinburgh, who had lost just once at home up to that point. The trip home would have certainly been sweetened by a dominant 47-5 victory, leaving the home side in a bit of a void in fourth place.