BUCS Week 11 Preview: Premier Playoff Contenders Likely Confirmed this Weekend

Photo: Heath Photography, provided by Durham Saints

The BUCS season is drawing to a close, and multiple teams' fates are in the balance this week, with promotion, relegation and playoff seedings on the line, we bring you our preview of BUCS Week 11.

Premier National

UWE vs Durham

After last week's win the Saints are flying high and beating the Gold gives them a huge amount of confidence going into the long trip to Bristol. However, the Bullets are coming off an 84-0 victory over Leeds Beckett. UWE want to take momentum into an important final game of the regular season against Gold and Durham will want to lock up the number 3 seed.

Leeds Beckett vs Loughborough

This game will seal Carnegie’s fate with a loss, meaning they will be bottom of the Prem National and will face the winner of the National Vase, but they face the side with just one more win, which was over them. For Beckett to move off the bottom they will need to overcome a 24-point deficit, but this will be an entertaining game between two struggling sides on both sides of the ball.

Premier North

Liverpool vs Newcastle

The reverse fixture of this was an uninspiring 8-0 Raiders win and another result like that will relegate the Raptors. Liverpool need to win and win and win, it is that simple for the Merseyside club. Newcastle did impress last week as they hosted NTU winning and really boosting their playoff charge and could be clicking and finding form at the right time to give them the best opportunity to make it far in the postseason.

Warwick vs Leeds

These two sides have met already with Leeds being victorious in week 1, a lot has changed since then and now we see first versus second a real fight for that number one seed in the North. The Gryphons will need to rely on their high-scoring offence against a defence that has only conceded 66 points this season. The Warwick offence is not afraid to score points when a side is there for the taking.

Premier South

Portsmouth vs SGS

The Destroyers host the Pride in what promises to be an entertaining one. Portsmouth bounced back last week and will take some momentum into the SGS challenge. A win will cement their place as the second side in the South, whilst the Pride will want to remain unbeaten and take that momentum into the postseason, a win will secure top spot for them.

Exeter vs Cardiff

Could the Cobras do the impossible and survive relegation again? A win here and they cement their spot in the Prem whilst the Demons who have qualified for the playoffs will want to build some momentum going into the postseason. The Birmingham Lions will be looking at this match worried as a Cobras road victory could relegate the Lions and put them in Tier 1 for the first time in a long time.

Tier 1

Scotland

Edinburgh Napier vs Glasgow

The Tigers travel to Edinburgh to face the best side in Scotland, so far, who will look to be the number one side in the Tier. The Tigers themselves need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive but will find it a tricky task against a Knights side who look like they do not know how to lose.

Stirling vs Aberdeen – Home walkover

Northern

LJMU vs Northumbria

The Manchester walkover loss means the Fury aren’t quite relegated yet! The Mustangs will see them as easy prey, but LJMU are playing for survival, and a win here could be massive going into next season. The Mustangs will want to continue their incredible season and help them become a top seed in the Tier.

UCLan vs Manchester

Manchester has an outside chance of playoff football and a shock win against the Rams could seriously help their chances, but the Preston based side will want to keep their top seed hopes alive with a win and hope the LJMU can shock everyone. UCLan are the complete side, scores at will and knows how to stop sides from putting up a challenge, it will be a tough one for the Tyrants.

Midlands & Yorkshire

Nottingham Green vs Leicester

The Greens are still quietly undefeated and face a Longhorn side who are looking impressive after the return after Christmas break. The Greens will fight to be the number one seed in the Tier. A win here will be imperative to their success, but the Longhorns need a win too as they are battling with the Hallam Warriors for second spot and a win here will help them massively.

Coventry vs Sheffield Hallam

It’s a tough ask for the Jets to make the playoffs but a win this week would put serious pressure on Sheffield Hallam. The Warriors, who like the Longhorns, need a win as a win will help their playoff hopes as a second or a third seed. Coventry will not make it easy for the Warriors, as the last game between the sides ended 35-0 to the Warriors, and they will look for revenge and a glimpse of hope for the playoffs.

South Western

Southampton vs Bath

The Stags are in playoff contention but after a heavy loss to Bournemouth last week they need a bounce back and it is a good time to do so. To have a game so quickly after a heavy defeat could be the kick that they need. They face a Bath side who are 1-3, and haven’t played since early December. The Killer Bees will want some comfort going into a likely showdown against Swansea next week.

Swansea vs Bristol

Bristol are midtable and face the bottom side Swansea, both sides need a win Swansea to either stay alive in the division or to keep playoff hopes going. The Titans have struggled this season and Bristol needs to act on that by showing their strengths and beating the Titans away from home to be with a chance of a playoff spot.

Southern

Brighton vs Oxford

The Panthers host the Lancers in a match between two 2-3 sides. Both sides will look to win to put pressure on the Hurricanes in second, but both sides need to improve, Oxford started the season well, but since then have faltered, whilst Brighton will look to push on after their 42-0 win over the Reading Knights and impressive close losses to Brunel and Herts.

Hertfordshire vs Reading

Reading are already relegated and have not scored a point since Christmas and Hertfordshire are coming back after a close loss to table-topping Brunel, but the Hurricanes will look to be like Oxford and Brighton and inflict another heavy loss on the Knights to put one foot in the playoffs.

South Eastern

KCL vs UCL

KCL host UCL in a matchup that will see top versus forth and another win for KCL could be important for their success for the rest of the year. UCL, however, are in a muddy spot as they don’t really have anything to play for with regard to postseason football.

Kent vs Essex

Second versus bottom as the Falcons host the Blades. Essex are already relegated and this is their last game of the season and if they want to bounce back next year a win here could help them a lot going into the offseason as they prepare for Tier 2 football. Kent need a win to catch KCL and a victory here will put pressure on top spot going into the last week of the season next week.

Tier 2

North Western

Staffordshire vs Keele

Both sides now sit bottom of the division after they both conceded a walkover last week. Despite this, Staffs still have a chance of post-season football as a best-placed third team depending on how York and Cambridge finish the season.

North Eastern

York vs YSJ

Another York derby is upon us after a 12-8 York win last week, the Jags will look to improve. A clear improvement has happened since the start of the season, but a win against their city rivals could show what the Jags are all about. On the flip side, the Centurions need to win to be able to challenge for the postseason.

Midlands

Cambridge vs ARU

Much like the Northeast, we have another derby as ARU will travel to Cambridge. The Pythons did not have a good showing last week against the Siege losing 6-0 and putting their postseason lives at risk, a win this week will help them massively and put major pressure on the Colonials going into the last two weeks of the year.

South Western

Bath Spa vs Gloucestershire

The bottom two sides in the division. Both sides will have this highlighted as a potential win. Both sides have only scored 32 points in a combined six games. The Gladiators defence have been strong in comparison to the Bulldogs so will lean on that to stand a chance of an away win.

UWE 2 vs the Welsh side

The Bullets are 2-1 and face the 2-0 Aberystwyth. Both sides have barely played, and it will be a good look at two very competitive sides. Both sides will need this win to keep their playoff and promotion aspirations alive. The key to the game will be how effective UWE 2’s offence will be against a tough Aberystwyth defence which has conceded only 5 points this season.

Southern

Solent vs Oxford Brookes

Bottom vs top as Oxford Brookes will travel to Solent to face a side who have only played 2 games so far this season. 84 points conceded in two games highlights the real issue with Solent, whilst Brookes, who it seems like we haven't seen in forever, boasts a record of 114 scored and six conceded. It will be interesting to see how Brookes look after the break and their long trip south to Solent.

South Eastern

Greenwich vs Kingston

Top place Kingston travels across London to Greenwich to face the Mariners. The Cougars have looked strong all season long and look to keep their unbeaten record this week as the Mariners who are 2-1-1 face a tough test against the Cougars who look set up for the playoffs. Kingston can secure the division title with a win.

City St George vs Imperial

The Wolfpack have had a weird season so far, a very stop-start one and they face an Imperial side who are still without a win. Imperial has a loss and two ties, this will be an interesting one to see what City side we will see and if the Immortals can improve and win their first game against a Wolfpack side who could be there for the taking.

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