Adam Shergold’s Wednesday Round-up: 25 February
It was the afternoon that should have been Varsity. Instead, there was a very much size zero programme of sport fixtures on Wednesday afternoon, yet each of them seemed to assume monumental significance as the BUCS League and Cup campaigns start to trudge towards their conclusions. Nouse walks you through the best of the action.
The natural starting point is the women’s rugby team, who resiliently survived a second-half fightback from Sheffield Hallam to book their progression into the final of the BUCS Cup, where they will face Liverpool University. Their 24-15 victory was built upon a commanding first-half performance, with tries from Kirsty Wheeler, later withdrawn with a suspected broken ankle, Emma Cooper (2) and Claire Beer, putting York out of sight. Despite the onset of fatigue and constant pressure from the Hallam attack, York clung on to ensure the shot at silverware an impressive season merited. The side return to league action next week, where they are favourites for promotion, with a trip to Sunderland University in the first of three season-defining matches before the Easter holidays.
Another of York’s team through to the final of the inaugural round of BUCS Cup tournaments are the imperious women’s squash team, who overcame Manchester Met 3-0 yesterday to set up a tie with Leeds University in next month’s finale. There was disappointment for the men’s squash team in the most heart-breaking fashion yesterday, as Manchester University, from the league above, ended their BUCS Cup interest at the semi-final stage. Leading 2-1 overall, the visitors, whom York will be playing in the league next season having already secured promotion, turned the match around to arrange a date with Newcastle University in the final.
Better news for the men’s table tennis side, however, who kept their cup interest alive with a dominant 15-2 quarter-final victory over Birmingham University and will now challenge Manchester, also a top flight outfit, in the last four. Sadly, the recent revival for men’s tennis was cut short following a 2-8 elimination by Sheffield University at the semi-final stage of their BUCS knock-out competition, although they have an immediate opportunity to exact revenge in the league next week.
A fine afternoon for rugby at York was completed with a hat-trick of triumphs for the men’s sides. Critically, the firsts, recording their ninth successive win, established breathing space at the summit of Northern Conference 2B following a 20-0 result away to Teesside. Extending their points difference to above 300 points in the process, much now hinges on Saturday’s rearranged home fixture with Hull University, and the trip to Huddersfield next Wednesday. Meanwhile, the seconds were resounding 50-5 victors against Bradford, extending their recent resurgence in form, and the thirds put St. John in their place in the only cross-city encounter of the day, winning 45-19.
The weight of BUCS League rearrangements means a choice of entertainment on Saturday afternoon, with the men’s football firsts hosting Teesside in addition to the aforementioned rugby firsts’ fixture with Hull. Both kick-off at 2pm on the 22 Acres, so why not go along and lend your support?
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