Strong first half sets six-try Bath up for BUCS Super Rugby home success against Cardiff Met
The University of Bath men’s 1st XV continued their winning start to 2025 as a strong first half set them up for a 38-26 BUCS Super Rugby home victory over Cardiff Met.
The hosts were missing several players on U20 international duty but showed their strength in depth as they rallied from conceding an early converted try to lead 26-7 at the interval.
A penalty try got them back on level terms and a Harry Breeze touchdown, converted by Will Roue, moved Bath ahead for the first time. Tyler Offiah went over to extend the lead before Cardiff Met were forced to concede another penalty try.
The visitors scored the first points of the second half but a brace of tries from Tom Hughes (pictured), the first converted by Roue, put Bath out of sight.
Cardiff Met closed the gap with two converted tries in the closing stages but Bath, sponsored by Bath Building Society and Rengen, were well worth a win which keeps them second in the table.
They now face successive away derbies against third-placed Hartpury on Wednesday 29th January and Exeter on Wednesday 5th February, the latter taking place at Sandy Park, before returning to the Team Bath Sports Training Village on Wednesday 12th February for their penultimate home match of the league season against Leeds Beckett. Kick-off is 6.30pm and admission is free.
Match stats
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Claudius Wheeler, 2 Max Pearce (c), 3 Henry Mountford, 4 Jack Bennett, 5 Max Mayor, 6 Harry Breeze, 7 Will Keylock, 8 George Doel; 9 Archie Friend, 10 Raff Weston, 11 Tom Hughes, 12 Will Roue, 13 Jamie Howick, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Freddy Rossigneux. Replacements: 16 Yujian Zou, 17 Jacob Yates, 18 Alfie Griffin, 19 Albert Dmitriev, 20 Tom Hilton, 21 leuan Davies, 22 Ludo Kolade, 23 Oli Sedgwick.
Tries: Penalty 2, Breeze, Offiah, Hughes 2.
Conversions: Roue 2.
Cardiff Met starting XV: 1 Ben Murphy (c), 2 Lewys Walsh, 3 Max Surry, 4 Will Owen, 5 Oli Smith, 6 Liam Jones, 7 Lachie McGowan, 8 Ardal Yallop; 9 Alex Terry, 10 Vikas Meijer, 11 Henry Kirwan, 12 Chris Johnson, 13 Jacob Willmott, 14 Joshuah Carrington, 15 Steff Crimp. Replacements: 16 George Merritt, 17 Harry Silman, 18 Tom Pritchard, 19 Max Brown, 20 Ryan Cozens, 21 Harry Rice, 22 Jack Statton, 23 Dylan Scott.
Tries: Murphy, Silman, Kirwan, Smith.
Conversions: Meijer 3.
Picture credit: Bob Bradford.
