Six games into the season, the teams from Loughborough and Cardiff Universities are setting the pace in the top tier of British university’s men’s BUCS super rugby.
The two sides currently sit on 22 points. Cardiff have the slightly better record of the two, having only lost one game compared to Loughborough’s two. However, Loughborough have earned more bonus points, hence why the teams are level on points.
It is Loughborough who are occupying top spot, having the far superior points difference compared to their Welsh counterparts. Theirs sits at +95, with Cardiff trailing behind with only +10.
Loughborough are also the top scorers in the division with 211 points, which is over 60 points more than their title challengers. Cardiff have only scored 150 points, making their attack only the seventh most potent in the league.
Missed opportunities from both sides
The last round of fixtures, which took place on Wednesday 2 November, saw both Cardiff and Loughborough suffer shock results that impacted their chances to pull clear at the top of the league.
Cardiff will feel they certainly missed a big opportunity to go clear on the top when they faced Leeds Beckett. Leeds Beckett currently occupy the bottom place in the league by some distance: when the two teams met for their fixture, they only had one point from their first five games.
In a low-scoring affair, Leeds Beckett were able to hold on to earn only their second point of the season, with the game ending 17-17. Not disastrous for Cardiff, but a chance missed when Loughborough’s result on the same day is taken into account.
Having not lost since their opening game, Loughborough travelled to Bath on a run of four consecutive victories. Facing Bath would not prove an easy task, with the home side having won three of their last four in the build-up to this fixture.
In arguably the game of the season, only one point could separate the two teams. In a high-scoring fixture, Bath were able to edge out the top team, winning 36-35.
A win for either Cardiff or Loughborough would have seen them put a bit of daylight between themselves and their title challengers in the battle for the BUCS super rugby title. However, that did not turn out to be the case, and only points difference separates the two sides.
The chasing pack
Although it is Loughborough and Cardiff setting the early pace, a few other teams would legitimately be able to claim it is not just a two-horse race for the title.
Cardiff’s arch-rivals Cardiff Met are only one point behind the top two, with a far superior points difference to the former.
The two sides from the Welsh capital have already faced off this season, going up against one another in the second round of fixtures. Despite Cardiff Met having the home advantage, it was Cardiff who came out on top 27-24 in a tight game. Currently, it is this result that marks the difference between the two sides.
Bath are certainly also in the mix, just two points off the top, and boasting a victory against Loughborough in their last fixture. Just six points separate the top six sides, meaning Durham and Exeter should also not be dismissed at this point in the season.
Down at the bottom
As already mentioned, Leeds Beckett are having a dismal season, and need a huge upturn in performances to even consider the chance of avoiding the relegation playoff.
With just one win this season, Swansea need to pick up a few more wins, or they might just find themselves looking over their shoulder. They have scored almost as many points as second-placed Cardiff, but their defence has shipped the second most points. An improvement at the back is definitely needed in their upcoming games.
A season of midtable mediocrity seemingly awaits for Hartpury and Nottingham, who occupy seventh and eighth respectively.
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