Durham lead way as top four battle intensifies

BUCS Super Rugby returned on Wednesday after its mid-season break with another enthralling round of action.

Four points separate the top three sides. Durham continue to lead the way after their 37-15 victory over Leeds Beckett that puts them on 49 points, one point clear of Exeter who secured a bonus point 44-21 win away to Hartpury.

Third place Loughborough beat Swansea 57-30, while fourth placed Cardiff Met capitalised on fifth placed Hartpury’s loss to extend the gap to nine points between the two.

Cardiff Met were victorious 50-12 at home to basement side Northumbria, with tries from Iwan Shenton, Bailey M-Telfer, Steffan Davies, Joel Broadhurst, Ethan Morgan and Ethan McVeigh.

Head coach Daniel Milton claims it is vital his side finish in the top four and was pleased with their performance.

He said: “We always want to finish in the top four, a home quarter-final is really important and is something that has been a goal for us before the start of the season.

“If you said at the start of the day that we’d end up 50-12 winners, we would have bitten your hand off. There were certain aspects of our performance we were really pleased with.

“Our multi-phase tries were something we’ve been striving towards in terms of being patient in attack and looking after the ball.

“The physicality we brought to the game was something that really pleased us. However we’re under no illusions that if we want to come up against some of the better sides in BUCS Super Rugby we will have to be more accurate, especially in the contact area – we gave away two tries at the end.”

Sixth place Bath University were aided by Bath Academy fly-half George Worboys who was among the try scorers as they beat Cardiff 43-40.

Wednesday’s fixtures: Cardiff vs Swansea

Exeter vs Bath

Leeds Beckett vs Cardiff Met Loughborough vs Durham Northumbria vs Hartpury