BUCS Playoff Schedule - Premier and Division One Quarter Finals

This weekend sees the start of the BUCS Playoffs. After 13 weeks of action – not including the festive period break – the top 32 teams from around the UK have booked themselves a postseason place. Division 2 teams have earned themselves a break this weeks, also due to the fact they have one less game to play than the rest. So they join the playoff picture next week.

This weekend sees the Premier and Division 1 take centre stage and there are some cracking matches amongst the quarter finals. Stirling are the current National Champions and will host Bath as they look to retain their title. Birmingham are still the biggest threat to taking the crown, and they host Loughborough in the opening round, Kingston have had an impressive debut season at the top table of the Uni game, and face dark horses Durham, and lastly Derby travel to Herts trying to spring a surprise.

 

PREMIER QUARTER FINALS

STIRLING v BATH

HERTFORDSHIRE v DERBY

BIRMINGHAM v LOUGHBOROUGH

DURHAM v KINGSTON

Glasgow have been the pick of the Division 1 North this year and play host to Sheffield looking to avoid the banana skin slip-up. Warwick, UCLan and NTU also have home games in the North side of the draw. Down South the pick of the games is arguably Kent’s visit to Surrey, although Sussex will be hoping to cause an upset when they go to Cardiff.

 

DIVISION ONE NORTH QUARTER FINALS

GLASGOW v SHEFFIELD

WARWICK v NEWCASTLE

UCLan v NOTTINGHAM

NTU v LEEDS BECKETT

 

DIVISION ONE SOUTH QUARTER FINALS

SWANSEA v UWE

CARDIFF v SUSSEX

SURREY v KENT

BRIGHTON v RHUL

 

 

 

Brunel rush to end season on a high

Report and Images by Jason Brown


The Southampton Stags travelled to Uxbridge for their last game of the season against the Brunel Burners, who apart from being beaten by the Portsmouth Destroyers, have had an impressive run this season.

 

It didn’t take long for Brunel’s running game to show its strength however, as on their first possession second and ten, their running back managed to find a big hole in the Stags defence and ran for their first touchdown. Standing on the Stags sideline you could sense that the Burners were fired up for this match and were looking to score big.

 

As the first half developed it became apparent that the Stags were not going to be so easily defeated. Both defences took charge on the field and made it difficult for the opposing offence to gain much yardage. The Stags defence however appeared to find another gear and were clearly dominating the Brunel offence as they forced several fumbles during the first half and made a very important forth down stop on a fake punt. You could feel the momentum beginning to swing in favour of the Stags.

 

Approaching half time the Stags managed to get themselves on the scoreboard with a perfectly timed end zone pass. They went for a two point conversion but it was stopped short by the Brunel defence, making the half time score 7-6 to Brunel.

 

Both teams were poised for a battle in the second half with the atmosphere around the field that either team could win this final game of the season. It was Brunel once again who got the scoring under way in the third quarter, as their running game began to take charge on the field. By the end of the third quarter Brunel had moved ahead 14-6.

 

As the game entered the last quarter the momentum was clearly with Brunel, as they controlled the ball well, moved up field and scored their first passing touchdown of the game, followed a good extra point, making the score 21-6. The Stags offence at this point of the game just couldn’t find their feet to progress enough on the field to give their defence a rest and it was beginning to show. With the Stags defence feeling tired, Brunel took full advantage on the field and ran in for another impressive fifty yard touchdown by #52 Samuel Emem. Brunel lined up for a two point conversion which was good, making the final score 29-6.

 

The Burners ended their season on a high, however their loss to the Destroyers in January puts them second in their BUCS division, and sees they out of this year’s playoffs.

 

Images from the game can be found here;

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.986649384758501.1073741894.100220113401437&type=3

Southampton rush their way to a win over Chichester

Report and images by Jason Brown

The Southampton Stags and Chichester Spitfires met again for the second time this season. With the Spitfires winning the first game, the Stags would not want to walk away with another loss. Both teams were looking to improve their win tally so it was an important fixture. 

 

Both team’s defences were playing hard from the whistle, with many 3 and outs and turnovers, with the offences taking some time to find their feet.

 

It was the Stags who struck first in the opening quarter, scoring on a short pass into the end zone for a touchdown caught by #13. The extra point was no good giving them a 6-0 lead. The Spitfires managed a field goal in the second quarter and were yards away from scoring a touchdown when the Stags forced another turnover via an interception. The Stags preceded to move the ball downfield which ended in field goal, just before the half time whistle, making it 9-3 as the players left the field.

 

After managing to get a brief chat with the Stags head coach he said they were determined to start the second half with the same intensity and it was important to get on the scoreboard first.

 

This proved difficult for both teams during the third quarter as the defences were still in charge on the field. The offences exchanged punting the ball until it looked like the Spitfires were starting to find some rhythm. They moved up field and were again in the red zone. On second and goal, the Stags defence stepped in and intercepted the ball, forcing another turnover.

 

The Stags offence looked like they found another gear as their running game pounded down the field for their second touchdown by #24. The extra point was no good and the score moved to 15-3.

 

The Stags dominated in the fourth quarter; their defence held the Spitfires from scoring again and the offence continued to run the ball down field, taking time off the clock and scoring their third touchdown of the day. A two-point conversion was no good and a late field goal attempt from the Stags went wide. As the final whistle blew the end result was a fair 21-3 win for the Southampton Stags.

 

The Stags offence, once they gathered momentum, started to look like a team with potential. The O line protected their quarter back well and made holes that their running back could and did take full advantage of when asked to. Their running game eventually worn down the Spitfires defence and started to take control, which was a huge turning point in the game, making it difficult for the Spitfires to mount a come back.

 

Credit has to go the Stags defence, who only allowed a field goal for the entire game, forced several turnovers and sacked the Spitfires quarter back a couple of times. All in all it was a very spirited and well-fought match.

 

Game images can be found here;

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.981911918565581.1073741893.100220113401437&type=3

BUCS Action! Catching up with some of the recent Uniball games

One of our friendly photographers has been busy over the last couple of weeks. Andy Neale AKA Whizzyfingers Photography was able to capture some great images from the Birmingham v Bath game in Week 11, and then the Warwick v Worcester game in Week 12. Below are the links to both. If you wish to use any of the images please contact him personally or via us at our usual address.

WEEK 11 BIRMINGHAM v BATH

 

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/whizzyfingers/sets/72157662276871853

WEEK 12 WARWICK v WORCESTER

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.528020247370434.1073741909.158374481001681&__mref=message

Playoff scenario with 1 week to go

Just one week to go in the BUCS League and where most issues have been sorted in terms of who has qualified for the playoffs, there is still some jostling for position to see who will get home field in their games. The full picture will be realised after Sunday and good luck to all those trying to secure a position as well as those that are trying to keep the relegation trap door from opening.

That being said all the playoff rankings have been sorted in the Premier and this also means that the trap door has already caught two teams. Once more it’s the Stirling and Birmingham brands that have led the way all season, but they may not have it all their way in the coming weeks.

Here is how the Premier playoffs shape up, the North and South divide gets lifted for the playoffs.

STILRING (n1) v BATH (s4)

DURHAM (n2) v KINGSTON (s3)

BIRMINGHAM (s1) v LOUGHBOROUGH (n4)

HERTFORDSHIRE (s2) v DERBY (n3)

This means that the odd teams out from each division are Sheffield Hallam and Imperial, who will be playing Tier 1 ball next season.

 

Into Tier 1 then and the structure allows the top two teams from each division to reach the playoffs and after the two best records enter as Wild Cards. The system for tiebreakers isn’t complicated (avg points allowed in games played – forfeits not included) but does require a calculator at times, and with this in mind the Wild Card teams are far from settled, whereas the teams currently ranked 1-6 in both the North and South are in but their rank could change.

So if the playoffs were today…

NORTH

GLASGOW (1) v NOTTINGHAM (wc8)

NTU (2) v SHEFFIELD (wc7)

UCLAN (3) v LEEDS BECKETT (6)

WARWICK (4) v NEWCASTLE (5)

SOUTH

SWANSEA (1) v UEA (wc8)

SURREY (2) v KENT (wc7)

BRIGHTON (3) v SUSSEX (6)

RHUL (4) v CARDIFF (5)

Bear in mind that the North/South divide remains until the final, but then both teams will already be celebrating promotion to the Premier, so in effect the Finals in their respective regions will be the promotion deciders. Relegation threatens for Lancaster and Huddersfield in the North, and Aberystwyth and KCL in the South.

Still with us…good.

 

Tier 2 has just the top team from each division enter the playoffs and 6 of the 8 are settled with just two titles going down to the final day of the season. Again we have a North/South split with the two finalists gaining promotion.

NORTH

LJMU (1) v EDINBURGH NAPIER (4)

COVENTRY (2) v MANCHESTER (3)

SOUTH

PORTSMOUTH (1) v PLYMOUTH (4)

GREENWICH (2) v OXFORD (3)

With a full round of games to go it’s still very much all to play for around the country before the postseason begins and the intensity goes up a notch or three!

*We must stipulate that all the above has been worked out by the formula presented to us and therefore unofficial, but were fairly certain this is correct. As soon as we have an official line-up next week we will bring it to you.