BUCS Week 12 Preview: How will Tier 2 South finish?

Photo: Jody Davies Photography

And just like that penultimate week, BUCS Week 12 is upon us, and a clearer picture of the playoff landscape looms large as we start to see which teams will have those precious extra games and those who face the threat of relegation.

Premier National

Durham vs Leeds Beckett

Durham’s loss last week means that they should be cemented as the third seed in the National League, and Leeds Beckett have the promotion/relegation play-in to look forward to at the end of the campaign and will need to use this match up as one they can gain momentum from. The Saints know a win here can help them mentally if they want to have playoff success

UWE vs Loughborough

Loughborough are now safe in the National League for another year and will look to see how their side can fit up against a Bullets side who are looking for blood. The Bullets need to keep up their unbeaten run, of late, up especially going into next week's crucial match up against the Nottingham Gold.

Premier North

Warwick vs Liverpool

The Wolves sit number one in the North and will look to keep that seeding theirs into the postseason but have guaranteed their spot there. However, the Raptors MUST win this match to survive in the Premier and relegate Newcastle after their victory last week. The Raptors will have to put their bodies on the line to have any hope of survival.

Leeds vs NTU

Two seeds are fighting for seedings, as both are already in the postseason. A win for NTU means they should host a game in the playoffs and take second away from the Gryphons, but the West Yorkshire side will have aspirations to face their cross-city rivals in the play-in match at the end of the year.

Premier South

Portsmouth vs Birmingham

The Lions, much like the Raptors, need a win, and they face a Portsmouth side who sit second in the division, but a loss could see them slip to third. A Lions loss means we see a side who have been ever-present in the Prem go down to Tier 1 for the first time in a long. A lot on the line on the south coast.

Exeter vs SGS

The Demons have been a surprise package and look to the playoffs for the first time of asking. SGS might rest a few lads, but I doubt that as they look to take momentum and to prepare for either Newcastle or Liverpool in the playoffs. For the Demons, it will depend on what happens in Portsmouth, which will decide their fate in the playoffs first round.

Tier 1

Scotland

Glasgow vs Stirling

Edinburgh vs Edinburgh Napier

An Edinburgh derby is in store this week as the division-winning Knights look to strengthen their position in the playoffs, but Edinburgh will be keen to secure their playoff spot themselves rather than having to look to Stirling to see whether they’ve made it or not. A last minute change of venue means Stirling will host Glasgow with the winner taking the playoff spot and the other ending their season. A loss for Edinburgh and a tie hear would see both go through however.

Northern

MMU vs Manchester

LJMU vs UCLan

The Eagles have a slim shot at the playoffs, but it is out of their hands. They need a win in the Manchester derby and look towards what happens in Scotland to have any shot at being in the postseason. But the Tyrants will not be an easy task as Manchester has scored 144 points this season and looks to finish the season strong as their conceded game earlier in the season is likely to come back and haunt them. LJMU impressed in their loss last week, but the Rams are coming to town, and after the Mustangs won the division last week, the Rams will look to end the season on a high and carry momentum in the playoffs as they have cemented the 4th seed for the playoffs.

Midlands & Yorkshire

Sheffield Hallam vs Nottingham Green

The Green have clinched the top spot in the division and face Hallam who could claim the 5th seed from Leicester with a win but the Greens will look to keep their number 1 seed for the playoffs and a win is a must for that to happen.

South Western

Bristol vs Bournemouth

Swansea vs Bath

The bottom two face off in Wales. The last time these two met the score finished 2-0 to Bath, a scoreline Swansea knows very well. Over the Severn bridge a top-of-table clash between Bournemouth and Bristol. Bournemouth have been imperious and will look to keep their number one seed in the playoffs, but Bristol also have the incentive to win to keep hold of a home playoff tie.

Southern

Brunel vs Brighton

Oxford vs Hertfordshire

An entertaining week is in store for the Southern division as the Burners, who are still unbeaten and ranked number 1 in the Tier 1 South, host Brighton, who are wanting to finish off strong and hope for a playoff spot. The Lancers also have a shot at the playoffs but need to finish the year with two wins and start against a Hurricanes side who are currently the number 5. This weekend will be a great one in the south.

South Eastern

KCL vs UEA

UCL vs Kent

KCL have secured top spot and face a UEA side who need a win to clinch a playoff spot. The Regents may rest players for the postseason as they are almost certainly the number 3 seed no matter what the result this weekend. Or will they opt to keep pushing for postseason momentum? In London, we see the Falcons, who are second in the division, travel to the Emperors to see if they can improve on their sixth seed. This week will look to have an impact on the postseason seedings.

Tier 2

North Western

Edge Hill vs Lancaster

The top two face off again to see who will reign supreme in the northwest. The Vikings will look to replicate their previous 10-0 win on the road as they host the Bombers who we haven’t seen in action since mid-November. Edge Hill secures the division with a win and Lancaster will need to win by 10 or more to stand a chance of taking the division from the Vikings next week. This match will have huge implications on the Tier 2 North postseason.

North Eastern

Sunderland vs York

The Spartans have impressed this season, but the Centurions come off back-to-back wins against the cross-city rivals. However, the Spartans impressed two weeks ago against the Sabres in a 12-0 loss after their heavy defeat earlier in the season. Both sides have already clinched a playoff spot, and another win for York could mean that they can challenge Sheffield for the title in week 13, but a Sunderland win will look to cement the seedings for the postseason.

Midlands

Cambridge vs Derby

ARU vs De Montfort

The Braves will look to keep going an undefeated season with a win against the Pythons and secure the division crown. Cambridge will be aiming to capitalise on any Lincoln slip-up next week to secure a higher seeding in the playoffs. The Siege and Lions are playing for pride and finish strong as neither side can make the playoffs.

South Western

Bath Spa vs Aberystwyth

Plymouth vs Gloucestershire

Aberystwyth need to win to have a shot at a playoff shot against a Bulldogs side who look to avoid finishing bottom of the table whilst on the south coast Plymouth will look to hold on to top spot with UWE 2’s breathing down their neck. The Blitz host the Gladiators this week in the southwest, which will determine the future of the division and playoff positions. A win for the Gladiators could see them come of the foot of the table after a rocky season.

Southern

Chichester vs RHU

Oxford Brookes vs Sussex

A “new logo derby” in the south as Oxford Brookes host Sussex. The unbeaten Brookes side will want to continue their good form into the playoffs and show even more dominance in this division. Sussex will want to secure a playoff spot with a win but it will be a tough task this week. There’s a clear divide in this division, and in the bottom half, we have the Chichester vs Royal Halloway game, whereby one side could claim their first win of the season.

South Eastern

Imperial vs Queen Mary

We haven't seen Queen Mary since early December, and this week they travel to Imperial, who are without a win so far this season, but they lost a close game last week against City St George. Queen Mary will need to give themselves their best shot at making the playoffs going into the last week of the regular season.