Leeds Beckett University win BUCS National Championship with stunning victory over Northumbria University

Leeds Beckett ended nine years of heartbreak by finally overcoming their fiercest rivals Northumbria University to get their hands on the BUCS National Championship trophy.

It seemed fitting that in the final game of the University Rugby League season, Leeds Beckett University Men’s 1st and Northumbria University Men’s 1st would dish up a game of the highest quality, full of fluid attacking play and bone-shattering defence.

It was perennial runners-up Leeds Beckett who drew first blood. Having established early pressure on the Northumbria line, black and white cries of a forward pass were ignored as the ball was shifted left and into the hands of winger Will Cohen, who dove acrobatically over the line to open the scoring.

Brute strength led to Leeds’ next score. Camped on the Northumbria try line, Isaac Pomfrey lunged over from dummy-half, leaving a trail of Northumbria bodies in his wake. Full-back Fin Balback tagged on the extra two points with the conversion right in front of the posts.

The purples from Yorkshire were determined to finally make this year their year and extended their lead further. Scrum-half Evan Stephenson expertly sold a series of dummies to bamboozle the Northumbria defence and skip his way through to the try line. Balback was able to add the conversion after Stephenson made the angle a little easier for him.

Just as the game looked to be slipping away from the multiple-times defending champions, Northumbria captain Mike Hansen was the only person on the pitch alive to a bouncing ball in the Leeds in-goal area and pounced on the ball. It was a nervous wait as the scrum-half waited for the nod from the referee, and travelling contingent from the North-East erupted as the try was awarded.

It was a lifeline for Northumbria, but they were determined to make life difficult for themselves. Matty Handy was given a yellow card for a late hit on Stephenson, and Leeds would make them pay almost immediately as Waldimar Matahwa showed why he was a worthy recipient of the Player of the Match award, fending off a would-be tackler to power his way over the line. The half-time whistle sounded as Balback ignored the noise from the Northumbria dugout to kick a tough conversion from the right touchline.

HT: Leeds Beckett University Men’s 1st 22-6 Northumbria University Men’s 1st

Not willing to give up their crown so easily, Northumbria gathered the ball from their own second-half kick-off. A penalty and one tackle later, Arthur Wildish burrowed over for a rapid start to the second forty. It was an easy conversion attempt for Alfie Heppenstall, who reduced the deficit to ten points.

Leeds Beckett were suddenly looking like they had been reduced to 12 men as Northumbria built another blisteringly-quick attack. Evan Lawther stretched every sinew to reach the try line but was adjudged to have knocked-on at the vital moment. A huge let off for a scrambling Leeds defence.

Lawther was in the thick of the action again ten minutes later, this time preventing a Leeds break and being caught offside, which drew the ire of the referee and another yellow card for Northumbria.

Much in the same vain as the first half, Leeds took immediate advantage of the extra player and set up a smart left-to-right play 10 metres from the Northumbria line. With defenders converging on him, Matahwa pulled off a last-ditch tip pass to his winger, and James Evans did the rest in the right-hand corner.

Returning to the field with fresh legs and full of impetus, Lawther once again stretched a rangy arm out after being grounded and this time was awarded a legitimate score. The substitute’s try set up a gripping final ten minutes with both teams giving absolutely everything they had in their final game of the season.

With Leeds Rhinos legends Jamie Peacock and Jamie-Jones Buchanan watching on, Leeds Beckett held on to the 10-point lead. There was an outpouring of emotion and relief as the Yorkshire side finally conquered their rivals and could call themselves champions after nine long years.

FT: Leeds Beckett University Men’s 1st 26-16 Northumbria University Men’s 1st

Leeds Beckett University:

1. Fin Balback 2. James Evans 3. Waldimar Matahwa 4. Cameron Cullen 5. Will Cohen 6. Ben Grindley Roberts 7. Evan Stephenson 8. Lewis Peacock 9. Isaac Pomfrey 10. Charlie Rickard 11. Macauley Stephenson (C) 12. Josh Kerr 13. Ryan Hall 14. Dafydd Morgan 15. Harry Gray 16. Connor Brogden 17. Liam Chadwick 18. George Caldwell 19. Logan Caroline Hines

Tries: Will Cohen, Isaac Pomfrey, Evan Stephenson, Waldimar Matahwa, James Evans

Goals: Fin Balback (x3)

Northumbria University:

1. Ben McCall 2. Jake Dickinson 3. Josh Stephenson 4. Luke Jeremy 5. Alfie Heppenstall 6. Will Groves 7. Mike Hansen (C) 8. Tobias Gibson 9. Will Lintin 10. Lloyd Hall 11. Tom Siddle 12. George Birch 13. Harry Lowery 14. James Leach 15. Arthur Wildish 16. Ben Morris 17. Evan Lawther 18. Matty Handy

Tries: Mike Hansen, Arthur Wildish, Evan Lawther

Goals: Alfie Heppenstall (x2)

By Patrick Bratin