Comeback kids fire into the semi-finals
THE opening round of the BUCS Super Rugby play-offs exceeded all expectations as four quarter-final comebacks saw Cardiff, Bath, Loughborough, and Exeter through to the final four.
Cardiff produced an enormous upset to edge out Durham 14-12 at Hollow Drift to reach their first semi-final in over 30 years.
A first-half ambush saw Cardiff leading 11-0 at the break as two Cam Scott penalties accompanied Ben Vercibas’ try.
Durham scored back-to-back tries to leave the visitors trailing 12-11 with 15 minutes to go. But Scott’s third penalty regained the lead and Cardiff held on to defy the odds and book their place in the semi-final.
Bath toppled three-time champions Hartpury to continue their playSCOTLAND off run, winning 21-16 at home in wet and windy conditions.
A nervy first-half saw Hartpury hold a slender two-point lead going into the break before the visitors scored a converted try from the kick-off to extend their lead to 16-7.
A resurgent spell less than ten minutes later saw Bath get back within two points as captain Alfie Garside crossed.
They then took their first lead with ten minutes to play as Wales U20 representative Louie Hennessey produced some silky footballing skills before offloading to substitute Austin Emens to score the winner.
Loughborough had to produce a late flurry of tries to overturn a resilient
Nottingham side, eventually winning 32-15 to keep the coveted league and championship double dream alive.
The league champions were stunned in the first half by Nottingham, in what was their first-ever BUCS play-off game, as the Green and Gold went into the break leading 8-3.
However, three tries in the final ten minutes through Tobias Munday, Joe Plunkett and Reece Malone quashed all hopes of a memorable upset.
Reigning champions Exeter also punched their ticket to the semi-finals as they fought back from a 12-point deficit in the second half to win 28-22 against
Cardiff Met.
The stage is now set for next week’s semi-finals as Loughborough take on Bath whilst Exeter fight to defend their title against Cardiff. will face
– who finished bottom of the table – for a place in BUCS Super Rugby next season after beating Newcastle University 26-18 in the North v South play-off.