Nottingham were top of the table after two great opening round victories and put Swansea University to the sword 34-10. But their early bubble burst in the next two rounds and they will head to the Welsh capital seeking to avoid three defeats in a row.
The Archers launched their campaign with a bonus-point win in Swansea, but then went down to successive defeats to Cardiff University and reigning champions Exeter, both at home. The Nottingham challenge will give them a chance to stay in the top half of the table and build on their 26-12 win at Bath.
“It was a good win in Bath, which is a tough place to go. They had a big pack, but our maul defence was superb,” said Met forwards coach Alan Williams.
“We’ll need that again against a Nottingham side that has a big set of forwards and started their campaign so well with two big wins. They will be coming to us looking to get back on the winning trail and it will be nice to play a new side in the tournament.
“We need to build on last week’s win and back up that performance. It’s going to be another massive challenge in which we’ll be looking for everyone to out play their opponent.”
Cardiff University remain top of the pile despite losing their unbeaten record against three-time winners Hartpury last week. Missing a few key forwards, Cardiff hung on to pick up two points from the game thanks to scoring four tries and finishing seven points of their visitors.
It was 14-14 at the break on Cardiff’s new all-weather surface at Llanrumney, but Hartpury just got the better of the second half to run out winners by 32-28. With Ireland U20 squad member George Shaw and Cardiff Rugby Academy player Gwilym Evans back in the side to travel to Exeter, Luke Pollard’s side will be full of belief for a game that is live on the BUCS Facebook and YouTube channels (kick-off 7.45pm)
Swansea head to Hartpury hoping to improve after their 41-17 home defeat to Loughborough last week. They led at half-time, but then suffered when they received a yellow card. With only one win to their credit to date this season, they could do with a return to the rich vein of for they showed last season in reaching the quarter-finals.
Cardiff Met: Ewan Bowden; Jake Thomas, Bingo Ivanisevic, Joe Westwood, Roma Zheng; Brad Roderick-Evans, Ali Stacey; Ben Murphy, Connor Chapman, Math I-Scott, Brandon Harvey, Barny Langton (captain), Jack Wickham, Ewan Guy, Bertie Taylor
Reps Tyler Olding, Eliot Salt, Jake Bond, Dafydd Tiueti, Joe Cowell, Barnary Waddell, Rory Morgan, Oliver Gibbon
Cardiff Uni: Felix Gilbert; Rhys Harries, Luke Pollock (captain), Oscar DeVenter, Rhydian Williams; Ed Dunford, Josh Thomas; Theo Bavacqua, Ben Chapman, Adam Williams, Ethan Phillips, Alex Ashton, George Shaw, Gwilym Evans, James Roberts
Reps: Ed Thompson, Lewys Williams, James Pollard, Ben Roberts, Tom Caple, Dai Jones, Cam Scott, Luke Bray
Swansea Uni: TBC
