BUCS Focus: M1 Rugby Union

Team Northumbria head coach Darren Fearn returned from Exeter with mixed feelings after pushing the 2017 Super Rugby finalists to the limit.

The hosts squeezed home with a 53-50 win in what proved to be a thrilling advert for student Rugby Union.

And Fearn admitted he was left feeling conflicted in the wake of an astonishing clash.

“To come away from Exeter with two points is pretty impressive,” he said. “We’ve scored eight tries and stayed within seven points.

“If you’d have said before the game we would come away with two points, I’d probably have taken it but obviously I’ve got mixed feelings about the result.

“We could have won it.

“Attacking-wise, we were very, very good and clinical with our chances. To score 50 points at Exeter is something I don’t think many sides will do this year. If you look at the start of the season, with regards to putting away chances, we’ve been excellent. We’ve scored 107 points in two fixtures.

“People might think that we’ve added quite a few new faces this season with our results but in fact we’ve only added two new faces in the backline. So, I’m really pleased with how our combinations are looking.

“The pack worked hard - especially the front row. I really can’t knock anyone’s performance. I’m probably happier than I was against Cardiff last Friday.”

Fearn admitted that his side need to work on their defence.

But he is adamant that Northumbria are pulling in the right direction to make Kingston Park a fortress this season.

“We’ve got a few things that we need to work on,” he added. “We can’t keep leaking points. Through two weeks we’ve conceded 76 so we need to tighten up.

“The improvement will come though. It’s not through attitude or not trying - it’s just the little things we need to work on.

“We’ve got a tough test against Loughborough next Friday so we need to make sure we’re ready for what will be a tough game”.