What's the latest in University Rugby League?
University of Liverpool 1st triumph over Lancaster University 1st for a third time this season and inch a step closer to the BUCS 2024/25 Northern Conference Cup.
The Lynx of Lancaster visited Wyncote Sports Ground earlier in February and were comprehensively beaten 36-10 by the Lizards of Liverpool. There was an added determination amongst the visitors to avoid a repeat of their previous encounter, but it was the hosts that made the breakthrough on the 10-minute mark. Full-back Mason McMurray returned Gabe Black’s kick deep into the Lancaster half, and after Caleb Kynaston lunged for the ball and missed, McMurray was there to pounce on the bouncing ball to score.
Lancaster were restricted to limited possession by the home side, but dragged themselves back into the contest minutes later. The Lynx responded to Kynaston knocking on over the try line with a strong defensive set, which forced a turnover and saw Will Dobson outpace the Liverpool defenders and score from 60 metres out. Black’s conversion drew the scores level at 10-a-piece.
The steeliness in the Lancaster defence that was lacking in the previous encounter resulted in a bruising match with both teams desperate to avoid playing their final competitive game of the season. McMurray recovered from a heavy knock to have the final say in the first half. He exploited the tiniest of gaps in the Lancaster line to bag a brace and edge the Lizards ahead going into the half-time break.
HT: University of Liverpool Men’s 1st 10-6 Lancaster University Men’s 1st
The Lynx were dealt a huge blow in the opening stages of the second half as full-back, and captain, Charlie Rudman was struck down with a serious-looking foot injury. The delay in the game stalled Lancaster’s momentum and their woes were compounded as they were temporarily reduced to 12 men. Liverpool took advantage of their numerical superiority, and although Lancaster were able to hold out until they returned to a full compliment of 13 players, the pressure finally told. Liverpool forced a Lancaster goal line drop out and produced a punishing set of 6 to send winger Samuel Wilkinson over unopposed to stretch the Lizards lead.
The Lynx left-hand defence were beginning to struggle to contend with Wilkinson’s powerful and evasive runs and the winger was in again with less than 10 minutes to go, using every inch available to him to squeeze the ball over the try line and inside the whitewash - a finish that England winger Tommy Makinson would have been proud of.
Lancaster were not quite down and out and hit back with just minutes left. Centre Tyler McKenzie emerged from the bottom of a pile of humanity and was awarded the try, a try that presented Black with a conversion attempt that would have made it a one-score game and set up a nervy finish for the home side. Liverpool saw the game out and secured their third consecutive win over Lancaster, an undefeated home campaign, and a place in the Northern Conference Cup final.
FT: University of Liverpool Men’s 1st 18-10 Lancaster University Men’s 1st
University of Liverpool Men’s 1st:
1. Mason McMurray 2. Jonny Rajo 3. James Mcconnell 4. Ellis Abrams 5. Samuel Wilkinson 6. Matthew Biddle 7. Olly Oldroyd (C) 8. Ollie Skeech 9. Joe Butler 10. Kaiss Hussain 11. Leo Iribarren 12. Lloyd Hughes 13. Nathan Groom 14. Django Jones 15. Sam Solomon 16. Matthew Williams 17. Tom Birtles
Tries: Mason McMurray (x2), Samuel Wilkinson (x2)
Goals: Ellis Abrams
University of Lancaster Men’s 1st:
1. Charlie Rudman (C) 2. Caleb Kynaston 3.Tyler McKenzie 4. Theo Sumner 5. Ali Smales 6. Gabe Black 7. Alfie Mather 8. Alex Fox 9. Dom Hughes 10. Will Emsley 11. Kai Roberts 12. Max Harrison 13. Will Dobson 14. Eric Tofany 15. Liam Turner 16. Dylan Taylor 17. Minay Gunawerdena
Tries: Will Dobson, Tyler McKenzie
Goals: Gabe Black
University of Liverpool’s win set up a final confrontation with Sheffield Hallam University Men’s 1st, who emerged from a fiery encounter 32-12 victors over Manchester Metropolitan University Men’s 1st.
In the Southern Conference Cup, Cardiff University Men’s 1st and Oxford Brooks University Men’s 1st will face off in the final after 40-point victories over Cambridge University Men’s 1st and University of Warwick Men’s 1st respectively.
The National Trophy semi-finals line up is set after a drama-filled quarter-final stage. University of Nottingham Men’s 1st were the rulers of the Trent and claimed the bragging rights over nearest rivals Nottingham Trent University Men’s 1st 36-16. Liverpool John Moores University Men’s 1st looked in imperious form as they claimed an impressive 62-10 win on the road at UCLAN. Facing LJMU in the semi-final will be University of Hull Men’s 1st, who edged out Northumbria University Men’s 2nd in a 32-30 thriller. Loughborough University Men’s 2nd reached the semi-finals in similar fashion, inching past Swansea University Men’s 1st 20-18.
By Patrick Bratin
