Tuipulotu hat-trick steers Bath to victory
BUCS RUGBY
KEPU Tuipulotu announced himself on the senior stage with a 23-minute hat-trick in Bath‘s win over Cardiff Met.
Tuipulotu, the hooker on Bath’s professional academy roster, is former Tonga and Worcester scrum-half Sione’s son, and Welsh women international Sisilia’s brother. He is dual qualified for England and Wales, but has already captained England U18s. He generated significant hype during Harrow’s School Cup winning season last year, and has continued that momentum in his first forage into senior rugby.
The freshman bundled over from close-range for his first, paced and bumped his way past three for his second before sealing a rapid hat-trick off the back of a maul. It gave Bath a commanding 19-5 half-time leave, before Connor Treacey and Alfie Griffin tries sealed Bath’s 33-5 victory.
The victory ends Met’s unbeaten start, and draws Bath second, behind Exeter who have resumed their position at the top with a 46-17 victory over Nottingham. Prolific hooker Louie Gulley was on the scoresheet again, joining brother Tom, Noah Fenton, Jed Findlay and Campbell Ridl and a double from Kane James.
This week’s results means the table is starting to form its expected setup, with Hartpury and Loughborough now making up the top four. Hartpury thumped Swansea 39-7 for five points, while Loughborough claimed a bonus in a 54-26 win over Cardiff.
Leeds Beckett also claimed a bonus in a 41-31 home defeat to Durham.
In the women’s BSR, Loughborough announced their arrival into the season with a 67-0 thrashing of Durham, while Hartpury beat Cardiff 33-15 and Exeter beat Met 22-12.
