Loughborough University reaching a second successive BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship final has been hailed as ‘massive achievement’ by Loughborough Lightning head coach, Nathan Smith.
For a second year running, the African Violets were tasked with a daunting trip south to tackle Exeter University at the semi-final stage.
Ellen Scantlebury’s try and five points from the boot of Lia Green were countered by an Exeter converted try as Loughborough went in at the break three points ahead.
In this second half, Lucy Calladine finished off two dominant rolling mauls, Kendall Waudby ran in a sublime interception from half-way, Scantlebury landed her second try and Green took her points tally from the tee to 14 to secure a 39-31 victory.
The win secures a place in the final on Wednesday 16 June at Newport’s Rodney Parade, where Loughborough face Cardiff Met, who defeated reigning champions Hartpury University in the other last-four tie.
“First and foremost, I want to congratulate the coaching team and the players for what is a massive achievement,” said Smith.
“Reaching the BUCS final for a second successive year is remarkable and they should all be extremely proud of themselves.”
Nathan Smith
“It was a really testing game against an Exeter side that refused to go away, but the girls were clinical in attack and had some big moments in defence to see them home.”
Only two members of the starting line-up for Wednesday’s semi-final have yet to make a senior first team appearance for Lightning, while many of them also played a part in the 2024 effort that ended in a narrow loss in the final to Hartpury, and Smith is confident the team can go one better this time around.
“There is a real desire and appetite amongst the girls and coaches to go one better,” added Smith. “It will not be easy as Cardiff picked up one hell of a result against Hartpury and they will be feeling confident too off the back of that.
𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐨𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞!@LSWRFC progress to the @BUCSsport Super Rugby Milk Championship final for a second season in a row with a 39-31 semi-final victory away over Exeter University today! pic.twitter.com/FGCQj82Gt2
— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) April 2, 2025
“I am very proud of the girls, and it is another feather in the cap of the programme that we have here at Loughborough; especially when you consider the University side is operating without eligible players like Lilli Ives Campion and Becky Boyd, who are away playing in the Six Nations.
“In addition to that, seven of this team were also involved in the latest England U20 camp. The future is very bright.”
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