BUCS Playoff Preview: Conference Cups in Action

This Sunday the BUCS Playoff continues and the spotlight shines brightly on Tier 2 as both Conference Cups take centre stage. Four games in total this weekend, who will make the Conference Cup finals and cap off an exceptional season for all eight teams.

Northern Conference Cup

Sheffield (1) vs York (5)

Sheffield play York again, with Sheffield showing their dominance all season long in the Tier 2 North Eastern they now face a familiar foe in the York Centurions. Although the rankings say otherwise York will host. The Sabres will be going up the M1 to York, last time out the Sabres walked away with a 34-14 away win, and something similar could be in store here. Sheffield will need to do what they have done all season long and flex their muscles on a York side who will look to bounce back after their previous showings against the Sabres and show why they’ve made it this far. York are the only team left in the cup not being promoted to Tier 1 next season.

Derby (2) vs Edge Hill (3)

Derby come into this matchup with a break. The Braves have been dominant so far this season showing why they were in the Final of the playoffs last season. Edge Hill has been a surprise to many in arguably the weakest division, but the Vikings have shown what they bring to the BUCS party and that they are here to make a mark. Derby made the semi-finals after a walkover was awarded to the by the Cambridge Pythons and Edge Hill beat the Lincoln Colonials convincingly 26-13. This has the real potential to be an incredible match-up, with two division winners going head-to-head with everything to be left out on the field.

Southern Conference cup

Oxford Brookes (1) vs Queen Mary (5)

Oxford Brookes arrive in the semi-finals after an incredible season, a 5-0 record ensued after flexing their muscles against the rest of their division. A walkover in the last round against that Aberystwyth means they now face the Vipers who shocked everyone by beating the UWE Bullets 2’s 28-18 at Hillside Gardens. The Vipers this year have been impressive and will be a tough test for Oxford Brookes who will look to take their rest as an advantage to heal injuries and go again this week against the Vipers.

Plymouth (2) vs Sussex (6)

Plymouth hosts the Saxons this week as the Blitz finally showed they can score at will, a 33-0 victory over Greenwich showed the power they have on offence. The Saxons however have continued their impressive scoring record a 26-9 victory away to Kingston showed that their offence is hitting the mark at the right time, 174 points scored so far this season, only Oxford Brookes have scored more in the Southern tier. Plymouth will host a game between two sides who will look to show their power and have nothing to hide this Sunday, this could be a very close game.