Exeter and Bath split the spoils in Banbury

The University National Touch Series’ traditional pace-setters, Exeter and Bath, split the Cup titles between them at the Men’s and Women’s social event at Banbury RFC on Saturday.

The two Cup finals lived up to the competition which the pair of clubs have enjoyed over the last few years, with Bath beating Exeter 7-6 in the Men’s Cup and Exeter gaining revenge in the Women’s Cup, beating Bath 3-1.

With Loughborough finishing third in both competitions the standards have been set for the Uni NTS when it taps off in November.

In all 22 teams headed to Banbury, 10 in the Women’s competition and 12 in the Men’s.

Exeter, Bath and Loughborough were all unbeaten in their respective Men’s pools, with Bristol, Cardiff/Oxford Brookes, Exeter 2, Durham and Birmingham making up the eight teams which progressed into the Cup.

The remaining four – Surrey, Leeds, Cambridge and Bath 2 – played for the Bowl in a round-robin, which Cambridge won thanks to an unbeaten afternoon.

Bristol were the other Cup semi-finalist, losing to Loughborough in the play-off, while Cardiff/Oxford Brookes saw off Exeter 2 in the Plate final.

Durham were the fourth team to make the Women’s Cup semi-finals, while Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds/Oxford Brookes and Cambridge headed into the Plate, with the Light Blues seeing off Leeds/Oxford Brookes and then Bristol to win that trophy.

The Uni NTS now divides into northern and southern events for the Mixed competition, with the northern teams heading to Sedgley Park RFC in Manchester on Saturday, November 6th, and the southern teams facing each other at Oxford RFC on Saturday, November 13th.

The northern event is now closed for teams, with a limited number of places remaining for the southern event. Closing date for entry is Saturday, October 30th. Enter via your club account on the England Touch membership system, and email Jack Harris via university@englandtouch.org.uk if you have any specific questions.

CLICK HERE for the full results.