by Adam Evans
Date: Wednesday January 29, 2020
Kick off: 16:30
Venue: Swansea University Sports Centre, Sketty Lane
UNIVERSITY of South Wales Men’s 1st bring their BUCS Premier South season to an end with a trip to strugglers Swansea University.
In the reverse fixture at the USW Sport Park, the home side came back from 2-0 down to secure a 4-3 victory in dramatic fashion, with Cameron Keetch netting a hat-trick. The win guaranteed USW’s spot in next season’s Premier South.
Last season’s champions, USW, will be looking to finish their season with a positive result after they narrowly lost 3-2 to runaway leaders Hartpury last time out.
The Treforest-based side come up against a Swansea side who will be desperate to claim the three points with themselves, Bath University and Exeter University all fighting to avoid the drop.
Head coach Lee Kendall displayed his upmost respect for today’s opponents as a result of their performances in the Welsh system, as well as in University competition.
“You have got to go into any game with the will to win in respect of the opponent but we won’t want any less than going to Swansea and getting a result,” he said.
“I really hope that they (Swansea University) don’t go down and I don’t think they will because they have got enough to stay up.”
A victory for Swansea and a defeat for Exeter, who face league leaders Hartpury today, will mean USW’s south Wales rivals will maintain their status in the BUCS top flight.
Kendall added: “Hopefully the result goes our way but we really wish them luck because they are class act.
“The way they have got their teams playing in BUCS and the Cymru South is phenomenal.”
Reflecting on the season, Kendall admitted that it was always going to be difficult to match last year’s feat of winning the double unbeaten.
“I think it has been a real positive season for us on the back of a history0making season; winning two titles and going undefeated was an unbelievable achievement.
“That doesn’t come along often and to emulate that again was going to be tough due to losing five players because of graduation, moving to different universities and with Danny (Williams) going back to Cardiff City.
“It has been a real transitional season for us, but a positive one, because we have got a lot of first years in our group, some really exciting players that have represented USW extremely well.
