Langwith feel the heat as rivals close gap
“WE ARE CONVINCED that Langwith is more than capable of securing victory” were the words of Langwith sports reps Jon Kume-Davy and Shaun Lloyd-Griffiths in late January. Yet only a fortnight on and the Langwith boat is beginning to rock. Indifferent form from themselves and impressive results from main challengers Halifax and Derwent, has reduced Langwith’s convincing lead at the top of the college table to a single point.
Langwith, who have never won the college league title, have failed to live up to the high standards they set themselves in 2004. The spring term
so far sees them top of only the Volleyball league. And with Derwent and Halifax ahead in most other sports, there is a lot of work to be done in the coming weeks if they hope to hang on to their lead going into the summer term.
The main threat to Langwith’s position has to be seen as Halifax. Their superiority in numbers (Halifax are the largest college at York) has started to show in recent weeks as they have closed the gap between themselves and the top spot from 20.5 points to only one point. The turning of the tide can be highlighted by the pool match between the two recently, where Halifax dominated, coming out 6-1 winners. Halifax have also picked up excellent results in the Badminton, Table Tennis and Netball of late.
However, Halifax are far from being the only team Langwith need to worry about. Derwent, who were thought of as underdogs for the title this time round, have removed last year’s disappointing performance from their minds, and look set to launch a challenge for the league. They currently sit in third position on 126.5 points, three points adrift of the top spot. But with their Pool and Squash teams doing well it may only be a matter of time before they reach the top of the college league table.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in college sport there seems to be a definite gap opening between top, middle and bottom. While Langwith, Halifax and Derwent search for glory, it seems increasingly likely that Vanbrugh and Goodricke will be left with little to play for going into the final term of the season. A lack of general strength or weakness in any particular sports from either college has meant that they have been left to fight it out for fourth and fifth place. The battle for the wooden-spoon also seems to be well defined. James and Alcuin are a long way behind the rest and there is no doubt that they must now look to improving for next season, or face falling further behind in the future.
Whatever happens in the remainder of the season between the other colleges, it is clear that if Langwith wish to maintain their position at the top of the college league table, their form must improve. Signs of change were becoming evident in mid-week, when their football seconds ground out a well-deserved 1-0 victory against a determined Goodricke outfit. They must take strength from such results and get back on the winning trail now, or face a similar fate to last season.
The results so far:
| Langwith | 129.5 |
| Halifax | 128.5 |
| Derwent | 126.5 |
| Vanbrugh | 111 |
| Goodricke | 108.5 |
| James | 88.5 |
| Alcuin | 60.5 |
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