Internationals impress on debut and Wheeler bags a brace as six-try Bath beat Durham in strong BUCS Super Rugby opener
A brace of tries from player of the match Claudius Wheeler plus debut scores from Tyler Offiah (pictured top) and Kepu Tuipulotu helped the University of Bath to an impressive 40-27 victory over Durham in their 2024-25 BUCS Super Rugby season opener.
Durham scored the first try but, in front of a 900-strong Freshers’ Week crowd at the Team Bath Sports Training Village, the hosts hit back strongly with two tries from Wheeler and one for George Doel. All were converted by Jack Woods as the men’s 1st XV went into half-time with a 21-8 lead.
England U18 winger Offiah, son of rugby league legend Martin, then scorched over for his first try in University of Bath colours and captain Max Pearce also touched down before England U18 skipper Tuipulotu – another highly-rated Bath Rugby Academy new boy – came off the bench and quickly got on the scoresheet.
Wales U18 international Woods, also on debut, kicked two more conversions to stretch the home side’s advantage to 40-8 and while Durham bagged three tries of their own in the closing stages, two converted, it could not detract from a fine start for Bath.
Bath – sponsored by Bath Building Society and Rengen – face a tough test in their first away match of the season, a trip to old rivals Loughborough on Wednesday 2nd October (7pm).
Their next ‘home’ match is taking place at The Rec, the eagerly-anticipated Anniversary Game against Hartpury on Wednesday 16th October. Tickets for the big match, sponsored by Colour Studios, are free – click here to register.
Match stats
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Claudius Wheeler, 2 Max Pearce, 3 Alfie Griffin, 4 Max Mayor, 5 Tom Hilton, 6 Harry Breeze, 7 Iwan Coyle, 8 George Doel; 9 Ieuan Davies, 10 Jack Woods, 11 Tom Hughes, 12 Kit Evans, 13 James Short, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Oli Sedgwick. Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Jacob Yates, 18 Henry Mountford, 19 Aidan Ainsworth-Cave, 20 Remi Siebanga, 21 Enoch Gyamfi, 22 Archie Friend, 23 Will Roue.
Tries: Wheeler 2, Doel, Offiah, Pearce, Tuipulotu.
Conversions: Woods 5.
Durham starting XV: 1 Oscar Scott, 2 Louis Inman, 3 Sam Graham, 4 Billy Hipperson, 5 Archie Clarke, 6 Harry Willard, 7 Johnny Smith, 8 Marcus Rhodes; 9 Freddie Charles, 10 Jack Vernum, 11 Charlie Thompson, 12 Ben Motamed, 13 Boris Ames, 14 Charlie Coe, 15 Ethan Knight. Replacements: 16 Owen Boxall, 17 Leon Tahana, 18 James Bolton, 19 Finn Baker, 20 Osian Thomas, 21 Jack Harris, 22 Mitchel Lacey-Babalola, 23 Keelan Farrell.
Tries: Thompson, Harris, penalty.
Conversions: Vernum 2.
Penalties: Vernum 3.
