Loughborough chasing epic cup double on finals day

BUCS

By TOM JEFFREYS

The finalists of the BUCS Super Rugby Championship at the StoneX on April 17 were decided last week, with Loughborough boasting representation in both the men's and women's finals, against Exeter and Hartpury respectively.

On the men's side, it's de ja vu from last year's final, with the the first and second placed sides facing each other again.

League champions Exeter are looking for a third Championship title in a row, but having finished second in each of those league seasons, this fixture provides a chance to secure an unprecedented league and cup double.

It was Loughborough that pipped them to the league titletle last year, claiming top spot on a dramatic final day. However, they were beatenen in the championship final by Exeter in the most dramatic final possible;

Loughborough had forced the game into exan overtime equaliser, then led in extra-time but succumbed to a Tom Cairns winner with five minutes of the 100 remaining.

Cairns now plays at Exeter Chiefs, alongside Wales and captain Dafydd Jenkins who led and scored in Exeter's winning cause two years ago.

In Charlie McCaig, below, there will be another Exeter Chiefs representative in the final this year, and his 20 points in Exeter's 40-27 semi-final win over Bath proved crucial in Exeter's passage to the StoneX. The centre made his debut for Chiefs this year, and was on hand to convert tries from Jack Forsythe, Seb Driscoll, Milo Hallam, and Lucas Dorrell, as well as kick four penalties in adverse conditions.

Loughborough will hope they haven't hit their emotional peak, having come from behind to beat Hartpury 37-26. Despite last year's league victory, they have endured a tough season, but fought back from sixth in round 12 to finish second.

They fell 11-3 behind at the break courtesy of the first of Matthew Ward's brilliant two tries for Hartpury, but a George Taylor drive brought them within range, allowing Seb Smith to earn his side's first lead. His effort was followed closely by Fin Doyle's, before Sam Kildunne – brother of Red Roses star Ellie – finished Hartpury off with a coast-to-coast score.

Loughborough women also came through a cagey semi-final to secure a date at the StoneX, shock- ing Exeter with a 38-34 away win.

Despite finishing below them in the league, Loughborough looked in control throughout, with a brace from Lilli Ives-Campion supplemented by tries from Amelia Williams and Kendall Wardby. Lia Green's boot proved vital, with her 13 points preventing Exeter's six tries from denying Loughborough a first ever championship final.

The task awaiting them, however, is formidable. Also chasing the double, and a third consecutive Championship trophy, is league champions Hartpury, who beat Cardiff Met 45-31 in the semi-final to coast through, having had a bye through the quarters. They lost just twice in the league season, most recently, however, to Loughborough when they slipped to a 29-17 defeat at home in round 15.

Nonetheless, their champion pedigree and finals experience make them clear favourites. Loughborough have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, ensuring both matches on finals day will be exciting.