A Darren fine effort by TN sevens champions!
NORTHUMBRIA University rugby union men’s firsts are the new BUCS sevens champions following a grueling five-match schedule in Leeds.
A last-minute try secured the victory for Northumbria as they ran out 24-19 winners against Loughborough in a fiercely-contested final.
Head coach Darren Fearn said: “It was a great occasion.
“It was a long day but well worth it in the end to be crowned national sevens champions.
“Overall, our performance was really impressive and our structure, physicality and mental toughness in particular stood out.
“Mentally, to go on and win that final under the circumstances was a real credit to the boys and they showed a tremendous will to win.
“I don’t think it is something we had at the start of the season as a programme.
“I don’t think we really knew how to win and psychologically we were not quite there.
“If we had been a man down in a final, three points behind with no time left, I don’t think we would have gone the length to score like we did this week.”
It has been a promising first season in the BUCS Super League for Northumbria and Fearn believes his team will continue to improve and flourish in years to come.
He added: “It is a great finish to the season for the lads.
“It is always nice to win a trophy and it is a very good one to win.
“The big thing for us now is to take this level of performance into next year and use this victory as a springboard to improve on our sixth-place finish this season.
“The way the progression has gone this year, I was already optimistic we would get better next year.
“We are nowhere near the finished article and it will take a few years to get to where we want to be - but it is an exciting team and place to be a part of.”
In Wednesday’s BUCS Trophy finals it was the turn of Northumbria’s women’s firsts and men’s seconds to chase sevens glory.
The women finished third in a strong group and failed to make the quarter-finals following defeats to Bath and Cardiff Met and a victory against Essex.
The men made the last eight only to come up against a tough Manchester Met side in the quarterfinals.
However, Fearn said: “Overall it has been a great season for the club at every level.
“Both teams did us proud in Leeds against the best teams in the country.”