Cardiff University 31-24 Leeds Beckett University
By Jacob Boothroyd
Cardiff University claimed a hard-fought 31–24 win over Leeds Beckett, showing grit and composure to withstand a fierce second-half fightback from the visitors.
Cardiff started brightly, applying heavy pressure from the opening whistle. That early dominance was rewarded after just 12 minutes when relentless attacking forced Leeds Beckett into repeated infringements near their line. The referee awarded a penalty try, handing Cardiff a 7–0 lead and setting the tone for a physical contest. The home forwards were dominant in the scrums, driving with power and purpose that stirred the crowd and ignited the contest.
Momentum stayed with Cardiff, and their intensity paid off again at the 19-minute mark. After Leeds Beckett botched a line-out deep in their own half, Cardiff earned a scrum in prime attacking territory. Scrum-half Fin Charles seized the opportunity with a moment of brilliance, picking from the base and slicing through the defensive line to score a superb solo try. Fly-half Harrison James converted to stretch the lead to 14–0, and the hosts looked in full control.
Leeds Beckett, however, responded with determination. Winning a five-metre line-out in Cardiff’s corner midway through the half, they executed a powerful driving maul to score in the 25th minute. The conversion drifted wide, leaving the score at 14–5. The visitors then enjoyed their best spell of the half, putting Cardiff under sustained pressure, but the home defence held firm with organised tackling and discipline.
The Yorkshire side came out after the interval with renewed energy, and their persistence paid off almost immediately. Three minutes into the second half, a series of close-range carries ended with a try under the posts, and the straightforward conversion reduced Cardiff’s lead to 14–12. Suddenly, the game was finely poised, and the momentum had shifted.
Roared on by a lively, costume-clad student crowd, Cardiff regrouped quickly. Their response was swift and decisive. In the 49th minute, a Cardiff scrum deep in Leeds territory created the platform for James to dart through a gap and score a crucial try, finishing smartly and then converting his own effort to restore a 21–12 advantage.
The match remained fiercely contested as it entered the final quarter. Leeds Beckett refused to fade, capitalising on sustained possession to drive over for their third try around the 58-minute mark, narrowing the gap to 21–17. Sensing the danger, Cardiff tightened up their play, maintaining composure under pressure even as a spilled high ball threatened to hand momentum back to the visitors.
Fresh energy from the Cardiff bench made an immediate impact, particularly in the scrums and loose exchanges. The pressure finally told again in the 70th minute when Lewys Jones powered over from close range to secure the bonus-point fourth try. From a difficult angle, James struck a fine conversion to make it 28–17, sending the home fans into full voice.
Leeds Beckett were not done yet. A late try in the 75th minute cut the deficit to 28–24, setting up a tense finale. Cardiff, however, managed the closing stages intelligently, keeping play deep in opposition territory and forcing errors from the visitors. Their composure was rewarded in the final minute when a Leeds infringement gave James a chance to seal the result with a penalty. He made no mistake, slotting the kick to extend the lead to 31–24 before the referee blew for full time.
The result marked Cardiff’s second victory of the 2025–26 campaign, improving their record to 2–4 after six matches and, crucially, creating breathing space above the relegation zone. After finishing ninth out of ten teams in each of the past two seasons, Cardiff are determined to avoid another survival battle.
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