Max Pearce hat-trick helps third-placed Bath to victory in Cardiff as they equal their best-ever league finish in BUCS Super Rugby
The University of Bath men’s 1st XV will equal their best-ever finish in the BUCS Super Rugby league after a 24-12 win at Cardiff on Wednesday guaranteed third place overall in the 2024-25 table.
Captain Max Pearce (pictured) scored a hat-trick of tries, two of them in the first half – both converted by Will Roue – which, along with a Harry Breeze touchdown, gave the visitors a 19-12 lead at the interval. Harrison James notched all of Cardiff’s points with two tries and a conversion.
Pearce’s third try came 13 minutes into the second half and proved to be the last score of the game as Bath defended stoutly to protect their bonus-point victory.
Bath, sponsored by Team Bath partners Bath Building Society and Rengen, complete their league campaign on Wednesday 12th March when they welcome Nottingham to the Team Bath Sports Training Village. Kick-off is 6.30pm and entry is free to spectators.
Focus will then turn to the BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship knockout competition, with Bath guaranteed a home quarter-final against the sixth-placed league finishers, currently Cardiff Met, on Wednesday 26th March (6.30pm).
Match stats
Cardiff starting XV: 1 Joshua Twigg, 2 Jamie Goldsworthy, 3 Matt Towndrow, 4 Tom Caple, 5 Felix Gilbert, 6 Jack Ramsay, 7 Owen Popple, 8 Oliver Stirling; 9 George MacDonald, 10 Harrison James, 11 Mason Archer, 12 Lloyd McEwan-Peters, 13 Joe Blackburn, 14 Sammy Sinclair, 15 Tomi Booth. Replacements: 16 Toby Peach, 17 Oliver Williams, 18 Jack Beazer, 19 James Smith, 20 Angus Munro, 21 Finlay Charles, 22 Ollie Das, 23 Ellis Davies.
Tries: James 2.
Conversions: James.
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Jacob Yates, 2 Max Pearce (c), 3 Henry Mountford, 4 Max Mayor, 5 Jack Bennett, 6 Harry Breeze, 7 Iwan Coyle, 8 George Doel; 9 leuan Davies, 10 Will Roue, 11 Alex Clayton, 12 Kit Evans, 13 Ludo Kolade, 14 Jamie Howick, 15 Raff Weston. Replacements: 16 Yujian Zou, 17 Oban Baird, 18 Alfie Griffin, 19 Jimmi McNally, 20 Albert Dmitriev, 21 Archie Friend, 22 Luc Anfield, 23 Will Keylock.
Tries: Pearce 3, Breeze.
Conversions: Roue 2.
Picture credit: Bob Bradford.
