BUCS Week 7 Preview: Potential for points galore this weekend

Photo: Marc Bolwell Photography

As BUCS Week 7 approaches, we will start to see separation in the divisions. With another week that weather could be a factor, we hope for all games to go ahead. It will be a weekend with entertaining games across all Tiers. The Prem again could be full of blowouts, while we also finally see York this season. It's set to be an entertaining week.

Premier National

Leeds Beckett vs Nottingham Gold

Top versus bottom in the Prem National this week as the Gold travel up to West Park to face Leeds Beckett for the second time this season after an 84-0 Gold win at the David Ross Sports Village. Gold are still sitting top after last week's win against Loughborough whilst Beckett are still looking for their first win of the season, with the Greens having a bye week it could allow some of the players to graduate and get some well-earned snaps against Beckett.

Loughborough vs UWE

A 1-2 Loughborough side take on the 2-1 Bullets. This is the third of four away trips for UWE this weekend after having away victories at Leeds Beckett and Durham, the Bullets have score 158 points away from home this season whilst Loughborough have conceded a total of 77. This Loughborough side will need to find a way to stop the strong offence of UWE whilst finding a way to score with only 57 being scored in their three previous games.

Premier North

Liverpool vs Leeds

A high-scoring Leeds side face the low scoring Liverpool Raptors, Leeds were handed their first defeat last time out against the NTU Renegades whilst the Raptors last match was also against the Renegades and ended the same way with a NTU victory. The Gryphons need to show that their last game was an off day whilst the Raptors will look to win their first game of the season if they want to survive in the Prem.

Newcastle vs Warwick

Both sides have had three weeks off since their last fixture which was against each other, a Warwick 45-13 win. That day showed that the Wolves could be a contender this season whilst the Raiders have been given time to fix their flaws before the rematch at home. A long journey is in store for Warwick who look to win their third game in a row whilst the Raiders look to make their record 2-2.

Premier South

Cardiff vs Exeter

The Cobras host the Demons this week after Exeter's win over Birmingham last time out. The Cobras are coming off of three straight defeats after looking promising in week 1. Both sides are now scrapping at the bottom the division alongside Birmingham who have the head-to-head over Cardiff. The Cobras need to find their form from week 1 whilst the Demons need to make their win against Birmingham a winning-streak against the Cobras this weekend.

Birmingham vs Portsmouth

Portsmouth look to be the challengers to SGS Pride and will need to have a win against the Lions to back their challenge up. Portsmouth are 2-1 after wins against Exeter and Cardiff and a loss to SGS. The Lions will be looking to strengthen their Prem survival with a win, the Lions lost to Exeter last week which gave the Demons hope to leapfrog them in the table. If the Lions lose again this week that could be a reality.

Tier 1

Scottish

Aberdeen vs Edinburgh Napier – Game cancelled

Glasgow vs Edinburgh

We see another rematch as the Glasgow Tigers host the Mavericks. The Mavericks came out victorious last time winning 12-0 but since then haven't won a game losing three in a row. The Tigers have had better fortune being undefeated since there week 2 loss. In this division it seems that the Knights sit top and then there’s a murky area where anyone can beat anyone and this game will shape the division for the rest of the season.

Northern

Northumbria vs Manchester

After last week’s impressive victory against the UCLan Rams, the Mustangs are hosting the Manchester Tyrants to build a gap between themselves and UCLan. The Tyrants are third in the division and winning here will be helpful to them and UCLan and shape the division into a tight contest at the top. The problem with that is that the Mustangs cannot stop scoring and a combined 116 points shows that. It has the markings of being an entertaining game in Newcastle.

MMU vs LJMU

The Fury need a win it’s that simple. A loss this week could possibly seal their fate to Tier 2 next season with two losses against their closest rival. “The Battle for Manchester” went the way of the Tyrants however the Eagles beat the Fury 8-0 in week 2 with a pick six and two point conversion helping them that day and another gritty performance will be needed if they want earn their second win of the season.

Midlands & Yorkshire

Leicester vs Hull

Hull, much like LJMU, need a win bad and Leicester look to put pressure on the Coventry Jets who sit second. Both sides losing last weekend and scoring a combined 3 points in the last two matches makes the matchup a difficult one to get excited about but you can guarantee Leicester will be looking to bounce back. After a difficult week for the Longhorns after the news of former coach, Mark Mabbott, sadly passing away they valiantly competed last week. Thoughts and prayers from all at Inside Britball are with the Longhorns and Mark’s family and friends at this sad time. RIP94

South Western

Southampton vs Swansea

The Titans are 0-3 and the former Prem South side needs to win. I know I say that a lot, but the Titans' win could be on the cards this week. The one thing about the Titans is they don't concede too many points just lose tough and gritty games, a 0-2 loss to Bath and 0-6 to Southampton at the start of the season shows their potential on defence but also highlights their offensive struggles. The Stags are coming off a 7-0 loss to the Bristol Barracuda last week and will look to bounce back.

Bath vs Bournemouth

Bournemouth have put a target on their back, much like Northumbria and UCLan in the north, they know how to score and do it a lot, 162 points scored and only 2 points conceded make them the best point average side in Tier 1. The Killer Bees have only scored 4 points all season, and still have a win, that itself is impressive. A Bobcats win is on the cards but the question is how many could they put up this week.

Southern

Brighton vs Brunel

Brunel are a good football team, it's clear to see that now the season is progressing, especially after wins against Oxford and Hertfordshire. They sit at 3-0 and could easily make it 4-0 this weekend. The Panthers however will look to put a heavy loss to Oxford last week behind them and prove to be a challenge for the Burners.

Hertfordshire vs Oxford

Oxford come into this game after a promising start to the season, much like Brunel they know how to score, apart from their loss to Brunel they look to have the skills to be a great side. But Hertfordshire have the hallmarks of a great footballing side too their win over Brighton shows that they can score handily. This is going to be a great game.

South Eastern

UEA vs KCL

The Pirates are sitting at 1-1 after a disappointing start to the season, whereas KCL are 2-0 sit top of the league. KCL will need to start fast against the Pirates to win, they’ve scored 48 points so far this season and conceded 8. The Pirates have had a stop-start season so far including a postponed match last week, but they will be targeting getting back to the Prem and a win against KCL could help them on their way.

Tier 2

North Western

Edge Hill vs Staffordshire

Last time out Staffordshire beat the Vikings 27-12, since then the Stallions lost to Lancaster, and Edge Hill beat Lancaster. This division shows that there is potential for every side to beat everyone else. The game this weekend will either separate the top two from the rest or muddy the waters further. If the Vikings come away with a win they go joint top with the Bombers, but currently hold the head-to-head against them, whilst the Stallions also have the chance to go top.

North Eastern

YSJ vs Sunderland

Last week we saw this game at Druid Park in Newcastle, a 52-14 win to Sunderland. It’s currently hard to see anything but a similar outcome this week. YSJ have conceded 50 points in both games they have played this season and Sunderland have shown they know how to score.

York vs Sheffield

YORK ARE FINALLY PLAYING! The Centurions were scheduled to play the Bradford Bears earlier in the season however since their withdrawal from the season the Centurions host the Sabres this weekend for their curtain raiser. The Sabres are coming off two performances which saw them put up over 50 points in each match against YSJ and Sunderland. Playing their final away game of the season the Sabres will look to end it on a win before playing at home for the rest of the season.

Midlands

De Montford vs Cambridge

Two sides in this division are currently winless and the DMU Lions are one of them. Cambridge do have one win that came against the Lions in week 3 of the season, a 20-12 win that day helped the Pythons get to 1-1 and will look to join the Lincoln Colonials at 2-1 with an away win in Leicester this weekend.

South Western

Gloucestershire vs UWE 2

The UWE seconds finally play again after their week 2 loss to the Plymouth Blitz, then postponing a game against “that Welsh side” due to kit-related reasons. The Bullets 2’s at 0-1 are playing their second game of the season against the Gladiators, who sit 0-1 after a shock loss to the Worcester Royals. Both sides have a chance to kick-start their season as they will look for their first win of the season and join Worcester at 1-1.

South Eastern

Queen Mary vs City St George

What is going on with the Wolfpack? A walkover win and two draws see them with 4 points, the same as their week 7 opponents, the Vipers. QMBL will look to tie the Kingston Cougars with 3 wins as they host St George this weekend. A confusing division currently with a number of games called early or postponed but there are two of the top 3 in the division currently so maybe we will have a clearer picture Sunday night.

Canterbury vs Greenwich

The Chargers face another winless side in the Greenwich Mariners. This division currently has a clear divide and one of the winless sides could secure their first win of the season. Over three games the Chargers have scored 6 points and the Mariners who earned a tie last week with the Wolfpack have only scored the 12 points they did in that game last week.