Titcombe steers Loughborough to first title

BUCS SUPER RUGBY

By CAMERON STEPHENS

Loughborough were crowned BUCS Super Rugby champions for the first time ever after their dramatic final-round victory over Cardiff Met.

Entering the game, they held a slender onepoint lead over Exeter at the top needing a bonus-point win to ensure the title.

Loughborough led 14-7 before ten points in the final minutes of the first half gave hosts Cardiff Met a three-point lead.

Man of the match Charlie Titcombe scored to regain the lead before Charlie Cadogan’s sensational finish stretched the margin to nine.

Met landed a penalty but a late defensive stand ensured there were African Violet ribbons on the trophy for the first time.

Exeter’s 31-8 win over Bath ensured they maintained their record of having never finished lower than second place in the league. The twotime champions piled on four tries, including their 500th in BUCS Super Rugby, against a strong Bath side who finish in fourth.

Newcomers Nottingham qualified for the quarter-final play-offs despite a 35-14 loss to Hartpury. The Green and Gold held a three-point lead in eighth place meaning Swansea‘s 22-19 loss to Cardiff secured a place for Paul Westgate’s side.

Fifth-placed Hartpury scored five tries in the victory to give them a shot of momentum heading into the play-offs.

Cardiff finish in sixth place as the top Welsh side in the competition.

Durham finished their season on a high and leapfrogged Bath into third place following their cagey 12-0 win over Leeds Beckett.

In the women’s competition, Cardiff Met beat Loughborough 22-20 in a seesaw affair in the Welsh capital to set up a clash with league-winners Hartpury in the semi-final.