Nouse.co.uk » Adam Shergold’s Wednesday Round-up: March 4

Adam Shergold’s Wednesday Round-up: March 4

March 10, 2009
Adam Shergold

If such a thing as YUSU Election fever exists, it wasn’t much in evidence on the sporting fields last Wednesday. Aside from Emily Scott knocking a few hockey balls about on Vanbrugh Paradise and Kath Mildon spied scurrying inside the Sports Centre, it would appear the York Sport presidential-elect missed a golden opportunity to woo potential voters within ever-apathetic sports teams. Our teams carried on regardless on an afternoon of mixed fortunes which really captured the emotion-bending essence of BUCS sport. Nouse and YSTV have the best of the day’s action.

There was a palpable sense of deflation on the Astroturf as the men’s hockey team had their relegation from BUCS Northern Conference 2B mathematically confirmed following a 1-1 draw with York St. John. With their destiny already out of their control, there remained only a slender pre-match hope of survival, but the team performed excellently against their Varsity rivals and went down fighting, the necessary victory just out of reach. Having conceded a contentious early goal, York (University) fought back splendidly, with Niko Bode outstanding on the right side of a three-pronged attack. However, despite Captain Billy Walsh’s individual goal before half-time, and a series of presentable chances, York couldn’t muster a winning goal and will ply their trade in BUCS League 3B next year. Remaining optimistic, Walsh told Nouse post-match that he was ‘honoured to captain a team as committed and talented as this.’

Sadly, the women’s firsts couldn’t haul themselves clear of relegation trouble, losing 3-1 against a strong, table-topping Durham seconds team. With only two fixtures remaining to ensure survival, their trip to bottom-of-the-table Leeds next week will probably decide their fate for better or worse.

The men’s rugby side essentially wrapped up promotion with two games to spare, following a 46-3 victory away to league whipping-boys Huddersfield on Wednesday. Captain Mike Callis led the charge to BUCS League 1A with a hat-trick of tries as a nine-point advantage was established at the top with two matches to play. Second place Northumbria must win their three remaining games, including a home fixture with York next week, to have any chance of catching up, although their vastly inferior points difference makes this an almost impossible proposition. The women’s firsts followed up last week’s progression to the BUCS Cup final against Liverpool with a comprehensive 32-6 victory in a tough-looking away match at Sunderland. York can secure the league title with a win in their yet-to-be-arranged final fixture with Leeds Trinity and All Saints.

The men’s seconds obliterated Bradford firsts yesterday to build upon their recent improvement in fortunes, the final score 88-3 against the basement side. Unfortunate casualties of the recent freezing weather, the seconds must squeeze five league fixtures in before the Easter holidays, meaning three week ten matches within five days, including two against Leeds Met. Next week, the team welcome cross-city rivals York St. John.

Men’s badminton moved within touching distance of promotion into the BUCS top flight courtesy of a resounding 8-0 victory over Leeds seconds. With the teams neck-and-neck at the summit, York must defeat Durham next week to wrap up a deserved league title, a team they beat 5-3 at home earlier in the season. Sadly, many of the present team will be graduating in the summer, making an already tough challenge at the next level even harder. There were contrasting fortunes for the women’s firsts, who lost 8-0 at Sheffield Hallam, but the men’s seconds beat Teesside 6-2.

Men’s basketball rounded off their season by completing the double over York St. John in a 49-43 triumph, finishing mid-table in BUCS Northern Conference 3B, a league dominated by Leeds Met. In the day’s football action, the men’s firsts showed plenty of spirit in their 2-1 loss to leaders Sheffield Hallam firsts, a result that does little to resolve their relegation anxieties. While the seconds went down narrowly 1-0 to Newcastle, there were victories for the third team, 2-0 versus Sunderland, and the fourths, 2-1 against Bradford. The women’s team were beaten 4-0 by Leeds seconds and are in need of a morale-boosting win.

A disappointing afternoon for York’s netballers, with the first team losing 27-43 on the road at Teesside, which keeps them anchored in mid-table, and the seconds were beaten 29-30 also by Teesside. Better news for the thirds, however, who easily overcame the challenge of St. John 33-12. In an entertaining BUCS Cup tussle, the men’s table tennis side booked their ticket to a final with Imperial College on March 13th after seeing off the test of Manchester University 9-8. Meanwhile, the women’s volleyball side beat Sheffield Hallam in straight sets to cement their place in mid-table for the season. Finally, men’s tennis suffered more pain at the hands of Sheffield, who eliminated them from the BUCS Cup last week, losing 10-0 in a league fixture. The women’s firsts were also beaten by Sheffield 8-2 to complete a disappointing double.

A season of unprecedented success for YUsnow continued yesterday morning as Marlies Neuner came away with first place in the ladies’ snowboard slalom event at the British University Indoor Snowsports Finals, making her effectively the British University champion for 2009. The impressive gold medal achievement represents another piece of amazing news for the club and Marlies will now compete in the main event in a few weeks, where BUCS points will be at stake. Congratulations from Nouse to Marlies and the entire YUsnow team for the season so far.