By Hywel Fuller
USW suffered a heavy defeat to a well-drilled Brunel University who claimed three tries in each half to cruise home at Sardis Road.
This match would have been much worse for USW had it not been for consolation tries from Andrew Miller and Rhys Peters.
It began in a cagey fashion with both sides struggling to make a clear impact on the game.
That all changed after 15 minutes with Brunel full-back Luke Talbot crossing in the corner after several phases which wore down a good USW defence. Brunel fly-half Jack Hughes slotted over the conversion to give his side a seven-point lead.
Brunel quickly doubled their lead through back-rower Jack Lewis who powered over from close range despite the best efforts of the USW defence, with Hughes again converting.
From this point on Brunel were in the ascendancy and their dominance showed with a further two tries in the latter minutes of the first half.
The first of these was courtesy of winger Andrew Lamb who was set up brilliantly by Hughes’ cross-field kick.
The second came via Lewis, who once again touched down after a quick tap-and-go off a penalty.
USW needed a much more effective performance in the second half after finding themselves 26-0 in arrears at the interval.
But things only got worse after Brunel lock Oscar Berry scored after early pressure from the away side.
The conversion by Hughes extended Brunel’s lead to 33-0, meaning the outcome of the game was beyond doubt.
Two easy tries under the posts from Brunel backs Stan Giani and Ethan Heath-Dury piled on the agony for USW.
The hosts did mount a late comeback with two well taken tries through Miller and Peters, with Miller’s try the pick after he superbly caught a cross-field kick.
But this was scant consolation on a difficult day for USW.