19.40

And that’s it for today folks. It’s been an absolute pleasure, hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we have.

Tune in tomorrow morning, live from 9.30am right here on nouse.co.uk, as we get set for an action packed day with Rowing, Hockey, Netball and Rugby Union 15s taking centre stage.

19.36

What a day for York. That result from the snowboarding pushes the overall score up to 62.5 – 14.5. A fantastic effort all round, particularly by squash, badminton, skiing and equestrian, who utterly dominated their red-rosed opponents.

19.33

3-0 to the snowboarders and 4 more Roses points are in the bag.

A whitewash on the slopes has captain Kate Hicks “delighted”.

19.30

Snowboarding look good for their 4 Roses points, going up 1-0 after BUCS medalist Marlies Neuner screames home in a comfortable first race for York.

19.22

Here’s something to set you on your way for a big Friday night, courtesy of Justyn “right place, right time” Hardcastle.

Ouch.

19.15

And it gets better and better for the home side. York have knocked off the 111 target with two overs to spare in the cricket. These Roses points are flooding in now.

19.12

Blimey that was quick! The ladies have done it going up 2-0 in their best of three. Another 4 Roses points going York’s way

Getting a bit one-sided this Roses thing isn’t it?

19.09

YUsnow treasurer Marcus Gillan is going crazy on the sidelines as York bring home two Roses points in the Mixed 2nds Skiing. Next up, the Ladies fixture.

19.04

Elsewhere, York need 20 runs off 5 overs to win in the cricket. With five wickets remaining and opener Tom Hudson still, at the crease after notching up his half-century, this should in the bag.

19.02

An acrimonious end at the American Football sees the York Quarter-Back driven into the ground head first.

When the ambulance came on the refs called it a day. A “blessing in disguise” for York according our man Matt Jeynes, and York suffer a 28-12 loss.

18.56

And updates from the ski slopes and York Sport President-elect Emily Scott are flooding in.

York 2nd Mixed team won the first two relay races, needing just one more to secure the best of five match. Looks like Emily has been in superb form, with Conrad Bartos also skiing to perfection in race two.

18.50

Thank god for that, an ambulance has finally shown up at the American Football after the utter organisational shambles that saw the game halted for nearly an hour.

It’s 20-12 to Lancaster as they get going again and they’ve got until 7.00pm – when it’s ambulance drivers’ teatime (sic).

18.45

Dan Hyde here, back from the field of play. It’s been a fantastic day so far, 48.5 – 14.5, to York and more points to come from the cricket…we hope.

What a day, too, for badminton who completed a clean sweep today to go along with the firsts league win last term. Will Wiseman was understandably delighted and told me earlier he “expected it to be a little bit closer, but to get our first clean sweep in at least four years is absolutely fantastic – it’s been a great year for us”. And well deserved I say.

18.32

Captain Nick Vanner is dismissed in the men’s cricket, but York need just 37 to win with 8 wickets in hand

18.28

The York Hornets do their thing at the American Football

18.25

York’s hockey captain describes the win as “phenomenal” citing how extra training on set plays has delivered the goods today. Bodes well for tomorrow’s Astroturf clashes

18.22

York have won the men’s indoor hockey 6-2, what a result! Another two points to round off the day. Richard Larkin the star man for York, who are nearly past the fifty point mark overall

18.13

Lancaster grab a consolation in the men’s indoor hockey, 4-1 they now trail

18.09

Karate action

18.08

Ten wicket victory for England against the West Indies at Lord’s. Nice start to the Ashes summer

18.06

Nifty stick work from Sideshow Bob-Hucknall (see 17.46), but his team trail 4-0 to York at half-time

18.05

Grim tidings from the American Football field – according to Mr. Jeynes, our walking, talking compendium of the game’s rules, we need an ambulance to continue the match. One has just left. Might be a blessing for York though, who were trailing 12-20

18.01

Let’s have a quick round-up of the day if you’ve just got in;

Overall score currently: York 46.5 Lancaster 14.5

An excellent day for the White Rose, with victories in the equestrian, badminton, mixed tennis, men’s and women’s rugby sevens, squash, karate, ultimate frisbee and karting building a very handy lead. Still playing in the cricket and indoor hockey (York’s men now 4-0 ahead), as well as on the ski slopes in Rossendale

17.54

A flurry of texts and phone calls just as my fabulous assistant Holly calls it a day:

York men’s hockey take a 3-0 lead early on in the Tent, the cricketers are making smooth progress on the 22 Acres at 47-1 and the departure of the ambulance at the American Football raises all kinds of health and safety headaches. Like the men they are, they’ll carry on regardless of course

17.47

Town Called Malice by The Jam on the stereo
Tune

17.46

The number seven in Lancaster’s men’s hockey team looks like a cross between Sideshow Bob and Mick Hucknall apparently. Strewth

17.41

Just 32 required for England to win the first test at Lords

17.39

Apparently Lancaster’s women’s hockey coach is our reporter’s old victorian science teacher. Small world, getting smaller for Lancaster at the moment

17.37

Chrissie Leahy and Lizzie Prance attack for York’s women in the rugby sevens

17.36

Lancaster have edged ahead in the women’s indoor hockey – it stands at 4-3 now, what a nailbiter

17.31

Women’s Hockey now 3-3, how very exciting

17.28

Half-time in the American Football – 20-12 to Lancaster
Is Springsteen lined up for half-time show?

17.27

Mixed Tennis this afternoon

17.26

I don’t write Haikus, sorry

17.25

111 off 43 overs now, another revised target in the men’s cricket as the batsmen prepare to face again in the all too brief sunshine

17.22

Final result from the Karting and York have won on average after finishing 1st, 2nd, 7th, 10th and 12th in the 15-kart race. Well done them but maybe put some points on it next year!

17.21

116 is the revised target in the rain-affected cricket for York – I suspect a bit of Duckman-Lewis tinkering there. They’re resuming any minute

17.19

York City have their grand day out at Wembley tomorrow – the FA Trophy final against Stevenage. All the best to them

17.19

Half-time in the women’s indoor hockey and it’s 1-1
Lancaster have labelled our umpires d**ks
Charming

17.17

West Indies 249-9, a lead of 21. Looks like England will have this wrapped up tonight if the light holds. Bravo.

Men’s badminton has finished 8-1, an excellent and comfortable performance from York. I’ve given them four points for their efforts.

17.10

Matt Jeynes (yes, he’s back) informs the hub York are trailing 14-12 in the American Football. The inclement weather is actually increasing the entertainment value
Final reckoning in the women’s badminton: 6-3 in York’s favour, so four points there

17.01

Indoor Frisbee shot

17.00

It’s raining again…

16.55

Graeme Swann takes a couple of quick wickets at Lords as England close in on first test victory – Windies currently 248-8

16.54

Latest news from the Indoor Hockey: The women’s seconds match finished 2-2 earlier today, while the men’s seconds was 2-1 to Lancaster. One point awarded on those games

16.49

Cricket celebrations from the 22 Acres earlier

16.45

Theo Walcott has committed to Arsenal for the foreseeable future – the 20 year old England winger has signed a new contract until 2013 today

16.43

Super sexy squash summary: York Men’s firsts have whitewashed, and I mean obliterated, their opponents 5-0 with not a set dropped in anger or complacency. Awesome, four points for the total.
American Football: York lead 12-6 at the end of the first quarter
The Sun is shining again and all is looking good for the White Rose

16.41

News from the cricket, where Dan Hyde is perusing the scorecards like a man possessed, and York are 21-0 chasing 122 for the four points. Opening partnership is Ed Murrills and Tom Hudson, who are starting brightly

16.38

Action from the Mixed Badminton this morning

16.37

Eyeing up the bottle of Cornish Honey Mead in the corner…

16.36

Women’s Badminton: 5-2 to York, another four points as the lead is now insurmountable!

16.33

Even the Sports Centre staff are happy for a change

16.31

Top weekend of Premiership football coming up – Liverpool must claim the three points at West Ham to stay in the title race, then it’s Grand Slam Sunday, United v. City in the Manchester Derby, followed by Arsenal v. Chelsea, perhaps the clash between the two most dejected teams all season following their disappointing weeks. Then, on Monday, Newcastle v. Boro – HUGE!

16.27

Four more points for York!
15-6 in the Ultimate Frisbee, like shooting fish in a barrel

16.27

Scrum action from the women’s rugby sevens earlier

16.23

Ultimate update: 13-6 to York, two more required for the win

16.22

Men’s Rugby Sevens

16.17

York have dropped their first rubber in the Men’s badminton, they’re only winning 5-1 now…

16.17

Update from Lords, and the West Indies, to their credit have really dug in this afternoon – 225-6 at present

16.13

Ultimate Frisbee latest: York 12 Lancaster 5

Lancaster are known as ‘The Fish’ – looks like they’ve drowned

16.11

Adam ‘The Doctor’ Shergold here, accompanied by the lovely Holly Hyde – the perfect condiment to your tea.

16.10

Men’s badminton is over: a resounding 5-0 victory for York. Four more points on the way but four dead rubbers still to play – could be 9-0

16.09

It is Alex Lacey’s birthday – how on earth did that slip us by? “The day’s gone brilliantly,” he says, “but it’s stressful behind the scenes.” Oh well: if he can win York’s third Roses in a row it will make this a birthday to remember for him.

I’m signing off now and handing over the coverage to the capable hands of the Right Reverend Dr. Shergold, MP.

16.04

Riding news. York have taken all the points on offer, and York’s B team went through everything – showjumping, dressage – without a single fault, a flawless performance, and the A team only picked up 4. In comparison, Lancaster’s A-team picked up 26 faults and their B-team got a hundred and sixty seven. They fell off twice, and one of their riders was hospitalised. Gemma Johnson was the overall winner. 6 more points to York…

16.00

A victory for York in the Karate, though we did lose the womens’ Kata. Captain Ashleigh Clurs-Jones says that she has “never been so proud of York in my life.” 4 more points to bolt to York’s crushing juggernaught. Not sure exactly how one spells that. Anyway, the score at last count now stands at 28.5 – 11.5.

15.57

Natasha Tranter, poetess par excellence, is now at the Ultimate Frisbee. “The disc is flying through the air like a pig without chocolate,” she says. Clarification may follow.

15.55

Karting, and York are in first and second place with just ten minutes left to race. It’s like Formula 1 out there, only, you know, smaller. We’re also in 7th, 10th, and 12th places.

15.54

More badminton: The women’s firsts are 2 games to 1 with three more left to play. Shuttlecocks* are everywhere.

*stop giggling

15.53

American Football kicks off (or whatever it is that they do) in ten minutes. “We’re going to make Yorksport regret making this game 0 points”, growls a belligerent Sam Asfahani, York’s captain.

15.51

Badminton is now up to 4-0 as York’s seconds beat Lancaster’s firsts in a match that was nailbiting to the very end: 21-17, 21-18. York only need to win one more match to take the points…

15.48

Badminton men are 3 matches to 0: the thirds have just won 21-17. Our seconds, who you’ll remember are playing their firsts, are “touch and go”…

15.47

Ultimate Frisbee is happening, though it would be more aptly named if it was being played by gigantic robots with laser beams being controlled by Norse gods.

York is 4-1 up, though…

15.45

Cricketers bid for
Cricket dampened by the damp
Let’s all go have tea

15.42

Leigh at the Karate still earning his daily bread:

“Men are fighting now, and the crowd have woken up”.

15.41

Badminton firsts men’s doubles, York’s 2nds are playing Lancaster’s 1sts, and are 1 set to 0, and the 3rds match is the same.

15.38

“York women win the kumite”, says our Karate correspondent, “but noone here seems to have any idea what’s going on.”

I don’t know what we pay him for.

15.36

Adam Shergold has a sword, but “when you wield it, it goes floppy.” Nice one.

15.36

All quiet on the Western front. We’re hearing rumours that the Ultimate Frisbee might be starting up again soon, though. Try to control yourselves.

15.34

York men’s first squash team has replied to their seconds in kind: they’ve won their three matches to snatch 4 points with two matches still to finish. Why is York so good at squash? And racquet-sports in general? Who can tell.

15.32

The weather is really causing problems out there. Ultimate frisbee players seem to want to dive for cover at the first hint of rain, and the cricket team obviously are worried that their whites will go see-through if wet. We’re seeing some dramatic changes of weather almost minute-by-minute.

News just in: The badminton has been called off because of hail.

Not really.

It’s indoors, anyway.

15.29

Some more badminton results for the men’s firsts team. York is 2 matches to Lancaster’s none. Wiseman and Clarke won their second set 21-14, and Kanabar and Choi win their second set more convincingly than their first, at 21-13. Still, Lancaster could still claw things back from here…

15.23

Final results round-up for the rugby sevens:

Men’s 3rds York won 24-0
Men’s 2nds York won 22-5
Men’s 1sts York won 24-10
Women’s 2nds Lancaster won 20-5
Women’s 1sts York won 24-10

So that’s 1 point to Lancaster but all the rest, 6 points, go to York.

15.20

Cricket has been rained off, as has the Ultimate Frisbee, who were “diving for cover”, according to our man.

15.18

…and York’s seconds have won their match too, a nail-biting finish at 21-19. “That was a little too close for my liking”, says Kanabar.

15.17

Despite the disappearance of Lancaster’s musical prodigy from their team, the badminton has begun. York’s Will Wiseman and Paddy Clarke have won their first set 21-11 – a good start for the firsts’ team. In the seconds, Ricky Kanabar and John Choi are locked down in a more difficult match.

15.15

The men’s first team has won their rugby sevens match 24-10, bagging us 2 points… Well done chaps.

15.12

The Karate has just started. An external moderator will judge the teams performance in Kumite, which means sparring, and Kata, which is a performance without an opponent. 4 points are up for grabs.

15.11

A full can of whup-ass appears to have been opened by the behemoth that is York’s tennis team: We’re winning across the board in straight sets:

3rd doubles, 6-2, 6-0
4th, 6-1, 6-1
5th, 6-0, 6-3
6th, 6-1, 6-0

We’re waiting for the seconds’ result now… Jez Kane, a Lancastrian player, summed up the situation: “oh dear,” adding that maybe the “conditions were not helpful”.

And the 2nds are finally in, 6-0, 6-1. A victory for York! That’ll be 4 more points to us.

15.08

Victory for the York women’s firsts’ rugby team. York 24-10 Lancaster. 2 more points to York, taking the overall score to York 12-11 Lancaster. It’s extremely close so far in this tournament…

15.06

…while the mens’ seconds rugby sevens team (try saying that quickly) are winning 22-5, with the game “almost done”…

14.56

Elsewhere, our man at the rugby Dan Hyde has bought himself a foam viking hat, which he describes as “comfy”, and is now in the market for a sword, which are, he says “like gold-dust to get hold of”.

14.54

A quote from the victorious captain of the squash men’s seconds’ team: “this was the first time we’ve all played together as a team, and it was the tremendous support we received that got us through”.

14.53

Back in the prosaic world of women’s firsts’ rugby, it is half time. York 17-5 Lancaster. It’s looking good for York, but can they keep up the performance in the second half?

14.51

Having sent our most poetic-minded correspondent to cover the gymnastics, we had only ourselves to blame for the results.

“The gym routine was crafted by angels”, she says of York’s exhibition peformance, continuing: “It looked like pre-Raphaelite art. All bouncy and fluffy and full of colour.”

She’s lovely, ain’t she?

14.45

Updates coming in from the badminton: Apparently, Lancaster’s best player has gone home early to fulfil “gig” commitments. So it’s true… you can’t stop rock and roll – even with a shuttlecock.

14.42

More news coming in from the 22, the Women’s rugby 2nds match has just finished with Lancaster emerging victorious. The final score was 20-5 to Lancaster. York’s Fiona Parr suffered a knee injury during the match and had to be stretchered off, but the real casualty may be the overall score.

14.39

Big news from the 22 acres, York 3rds have just won their rugby confrontation 24-0. Too much lager on the way down to York for the Lancs squad methinks.

14.38

York Tennis 2nds are now one up in their second set, with the wind surely playing a factor.

14.37

Despite the near-gale force winds, tennis is finally being played. York’s first pair have won in straight sets, 6-0, beating the pair including “Lancaster’s best player” according to our sources. It’s all still to play for at the moment.

More squash, too: Brennan, York’s last player, has won his third set 11-6 to bring the final tally in the squash men’s seconds to York 5-0 Lancaster. A whitewash for the victorious squash seconds, and two points to York.

The Roses score is now tied 10-10. This could turn into a very good Friday for York if the cricket and tennis go as well as they seem to be…

14.31

The cricketeers have gone for a much-deserved and quaintly genteel drinks break. Lancaster are doing very well: currently, their total stands at 84 for 7.

When they’ve finished their tea and cucumber sandwiches, Lancaster are going to have to work very hard indeed.

14.28

Last two games of 2nds squash, and our correspondent senses “the possibility of a York whitewash”. We’ve got the points already, but it wouldn’t hurt to rub it in a little…

14.26

Women’s seconds rugby. Definitely not a subject for poetry: we’re getting reports of a serious injury on the field. An ambulance has been involved. We’ll give you more when we have it.

14.24

A quick tennis haiku:

Tennis: serving is
hard because it’s so windy
three double faults now

14.23

The Karting exhibition match has begun up in Teeside, but Lancaster haven’t fielded a team: our man at the scene says that instead, York is racing against Newcastle, Hull and Durham racers. No points there though.

14.21

Equestrian time, and the dressage is finished now. York’s A-team received only 4 penalties to Lancaster’s 26 – this doesn’t mean any points yet, but Lancaster will struggle to win after a start like that.

Jumping next.

14.16

Better news from the men’s 2nds squash. York’s Matthew Johnson has won his match, with the following scores: 11-5, 11-3, 3-11, and 11-5. Impressive stuff. This was the win York needed: 2 points locked down.

14.14

Tennis time. It’s worth 4 points, and was a highlight of last year’s competition, but apparently this year the strong winds might be putting players off – no matches have yet started and nobody seems in any hurry to do so. There isn’t even a scorer…

However, our correspondant on the scene says: “you can feel the sexual tension brewing at the mixed doubles matches… make of that what you will…”

Hmm.

14.12

Cricket now, and the Men’s first teams are playing out on 22 Acres. Tom Hudson stylishly takes a wicket, but then Andrew Everton bowls an LBW. This match is worth 4 points, remember…

14.07

Nicky Woolf here with the early afternoon results, and we’re straight in:

Squash, and our man Jump has won his last set 11-2 to wild adoration from the audience – a standing ovation, says our correspondent. This leaves us 2-0 up overall in the squash men’s 2nds competition, worth 2 Roses-points. It’s best of 5, so we only need to win 1 more match and the points are ours…

14.00

Further news on our Gordon Jump, who wins his set 11-7 to tie the scores for his match

13.56

In Squash, Jump has lost his second set 11-8, but brought it back with a win on his 3rd.

An a nearby court, Matthew Johnson has just begun his game for York

13.52

Martin is on fire in the cricket taking another two wickets with some excellent medium-fast bowling. Another LBW in the 14th over, and an edge to first slip in the 16th have York firmly in control in this one. The mercurial Andrew Emmerson has come on for Townson to spin some webs at the other end.

60-4

13.47

Stubbins has done it. 11-9 is good enough to take the third set and York are 1-0 up in the men’s 2nds squash.

13.44

Correction(13.28): You’re quite right ‘anon’, Shaun Stubbins is most definately a York player, and is two sets up winning 11-5, 11-6. He needs just one set more to give York a 1-0 lead in this best of five match. Gordon Jump, meanwhile, went down 11-8 in a tight first set.

13.39

Some sad news from the Dance Studio. Lancaster haven’t brought a team to the Kendo, so York are running their exhibition ‘match’ on their own. Other exhibitions today include the Karting in Teeside and Gymnastics, which starts at 2pm in the Dance Studio.

13.35

Dan Hyde here taking over from the venerable Raf Sanchez.

It’s looking a lot busier out there on the 22 Aces and some fully-clad American Footballers have been spotted running through some plays. Although it’s not worth any Roses points, it should be quite a spectacle this afternoon. If you can bear to drag yourself away from our blog, get down for a 4pm start.

13.28

First up in the squash, Lancaster’s Shawn Stubbins will take on York’s very own Gordon Jump. A good start could make all the difference in this one.

13.25

Big crowd is gathering at the Squash where play is about to begin. Foam hats in attendance.

13.25

Quote from a dejected York frisbee player. “We fought well but our best wasn’t good enough. We’re really pumped for the outdoor.”

13.24

Another wicket in the Cricket. A suspicious LBW given by the Umpire. We’ll take it.

40-2.

13.23

Indoor Frisbee Open hasn’t quite gone to plan. Lancaster win 8-6 and take with them 2 Roses points. Outdoors starting in a couple of hours. Strong wind won’t be the friend of the frisbee(ers/ites).

13.21

Eventful couple of overs in the cricket. Lancs’ opening batsmen has been dropped at mid-on, playing a cover drive. He goes on to hit two 4s. In the next over Townson concedes 8 runs. Some of the momentum seems to have gone out of our bowling.

Current score 39-1.

13.19

Two huge coaches full of Lancaster’s miscreants have arrived in Vanbrugh. They’re looking like they haven’t seen the sun in a while. The plan is to fill them up on Vanbrugh salad bar and send them on their merry way.

13.07

We hear that our erstwhile counterparts from Lancaster’s newspaper SCAN have arrived at the Squash. Apparently about 10 of them have made the pilgrimage across the Pennines. Nouse will forever have a soft spot for last year’s SCAN editor Joe Beech, who made up for his lack of a pancreas with a big heart.

13.05

It’s wicket time in the Cricket. A good ball from Townson was edged straight to the wicket keeper for an easy catch. One down. Many more to come. Lots of celebrating on the York side. Excellent to take a wicket so early, only about 30 mins in.

There’s been a bowling change with Martins taking over from Buttersfield.

Currently 23-1.

13.00

York’s Men’s 2nds Squash player Gordon Jump is getting seriously psyched up for his imminent match. He tells Nouse that York is “confident, ready and feeling good”. Go on, Gordo.

12.57

Squash and Frisbee both due to start in the Sports Centre in 5 minutes. Foam hats have been strategically deployed.

12.55

All the Sports Centre staff are wearing the silly foam hats. By all accounts they look totally miserable.

12.55

Badminton Men’s 2nds has finished 6-3. Not quite the domination we saw in the 1sts, who won 8-1, but very impressive nonetheless.

12.53

Buttersfield and Townson have opened the bowling for York. It’s currently 14-0 after 3 overs.

Looks like Lancaster are playing it quite safe with only a few boundaries.

12.46

We’re getting first reports from the Cricket. Play has started despite the moody weather and York’s bowling first.

12.42

We’re expecting the esteemed Nicky Woolf at our Roses HQ any minute now. With him we are expecting the mother of all smelly hangovers.

We’ll let you know.

12.35

Big props to YUSU and to Medieval Battle Recreation Soc for this year’s promo video. Get inspired.

12.32

Foy is reporting from the YUSU office.

York Sport President Alex Lacy is like a child on Christmas morning. His Roses hat goes nicely with his Roses shirt, which complements his Roses socks and probably the Roses codpiece that we can only assume he is wearing.

Also, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and general students’ hero, Jane Grenville is walking around in a charming lemon stewards outfit.

12.29

It’s all over at the Mixed Badminton. According to correspondent Andrew Brown: “Easy like Friday morning, 8-1 victory”

12.28

Frisbee is due to start at one with Indoor Mixed followed by Indoor Open. Below is a snippet from last year’s Indoor which York won 7-5:

12.26

Breaking news from the Badminton. At this hour we can confirm that it is in fact foam ‘hats’ and not ‘hands’ being handed out.

Not just any hats but “bloody great Viking helmets”. Excellent.

12.24

The covers are on the cricket pitches. It’s all looking a bit dreary. We’ll have a full update on weather (‘punny is funny’) the cricket goes ahead.

12.22

Readers will be pleased to know that between the 5 journalists in the room, we’ve managed to finish the Daily Mail crossword.

4 Roses points, probably.

12.20

Men’s B in the Badminton have sealed the win and are currently on 5 sets to Lanc’s 2. 2 more Roses points to York.

12.19

Foy leaves us with these words of advice: “Remember, punny is funny”

We apologise on his behalf.

12.17

By the way it’s now Raf Sanchez on the blog replacing Foy who’s gone to whip the Nouse Politics section into shape.

12.17

It’s now 7-1 to York in the Mixed Badminton. It’s a rout with one set left to play.

12.16

Clarification: we think our slightly confused correspondent Andrew Brown meant foam ‘hands’ instead of ‘hats’.

Apologies for slandering Cap’n Scott.

12.15

Back to Sports…

…or so I thought. Apparently, foam hats and swords have arrived amongst the spectators at the Badminton.

YUSU President Scott makes his own (lame) contribution to York’s fighting spirit.

They still need one more set for victory and the 2 Roses points. We’ll keep you posted.

12.13

All this talk of weather has inevitably led us to Youtube, where we found this gem of a report by Paxman.

12.09

Comment Editor Charlotte Hogarth Jones has come to our rescue via text, suggesting ‘kettle’.

We think ‘pestle’ but that’s probably a reflection on the comfortable upbringing of former Sports Editor Criss Noice. He’s eating a pesto and oregano sandwich at the moment.

12.07

Lacking anything to cover except the increasingly erratic weather we’ve resorted to doing the Daily Mail crossword.

Embarrassingly, we’re stuck on 6 down. Kitchen device, 6 letters. _ e _ t _ e

Any thoughts?

12.01

Just a quick look at what to expect from the next two hours. Cricket is due to start any minute now, weather permitting. Back to back Indoor Frisbee games starting at 1.

The big games start at 2 with the Rugby 7’s on 22 acres. Mixed Tennis and exhibitions of Kendo and Gymnastics also starting at 2.

Dan Hyde has been proven absolutely correct on the weather. We are being drenched in (intermittent) sunshine.

11.57

A voice from the annals of history now.

Victorious 2008 AU President (as it was known back then) Jo Carter is on her way to York to rally the troops.

In an exclusive interview from Waterloo station she tells us “I’m looking to forward to enjoying the competition without any of the stress. I won’t have to run away from Greg Dyke this year.”

Watch out, Lacy. Our esteemed Chancellor gets a bit grabby when excited.

11.54

First drops of rain are starting to fall in Halifax, threatening the cricket which is supposed to start in 5 minutes.

Cut to our resident meteorologist, Dan Hyde: “the clouds are moving quite fast. This shower should pass and the cricket should get plenty of play today”.

Do the sun dance, people.

11.52

Campus helpful person and serial commenter Richard ‘Mitch’ Mitchell has pointed out that you do need to refresh the page in order to see the new comments at the bottom of this thread. Don’t leave him lonely, folks.

11.50

And we’ve clinched the Mixed Badminton. We’re leading 5 sets to 1, making it mathematically impossible for Lancaster to catch up. 4 points in the bag, bringing it to 8-6 Roses Points.

In the Men’s 2nds York is 4-2 up. One more set will secure the 2 Roses points. Looking good.

11.45

Back to Badminton and our correspondent Andrew Brown. Loud cheers are building as York continue to dominate and are only one win away from victory and the 4 points attached. The atmosphere is “better than the average Wigan match”, which sounds like a good thing.

11.43

York Sport President Alex Lacy has these inspiring words for the White Army this morning.

He tells us: “I’m incredibly happy that we’ve won something, the Men’s 2nd Cricket. Until that happened I was definitely perturbed. But now I’m happy. There was the prospect of not winning anything but now that’s not going to happen.

Way to set the bar high, Alex.

11.37

The cricketers are warming up over on the square. The toss is scheduled for 1230, and – contrary to the booklet – will be worth 4 points.

11.36

Mixed Badminton are now 4-1 up – one more game and the 4 points are in the bag. Captain Ricky Kanabar is still to play as well – game over, surely!?

11.35

Scoping out Lancaster’s AU Pres, Gaz Coleman, reveals he is the proverbial antithesis to Mr Lacy. He’d bring a ‘Paddle, rope, and sea turtles’ to a desert island, and is tee-total, much – I’m sure – to Lacy’s utter disgust. ‘One interesting fact about you: I have a pet piranha… admittedly stuffed’. Hmmm. Certainly interesting.

11.32

We’re all currently admiring Sam Town’s fantastic Roses guidebooks – they look incredible, if a little ‘War of the Roses’ heavy. Shergold gets the opening essay, with Big Bad Brian Cantor relegated to page 4. Pull out your middle poster and wave it high.

11.29

Looking pretty acrobatic here.

11.29

Men’s Doubles will be 5-1, guaranteeing 2 points, if they win the games they are currently leading in. The play is ‘acrobatic’ apparently.

11.28

Men’s Badminton now 3-1 up with 5 games to play. 4 points looking safer now.

11.27

James Somerside in action right now in the Men’s 2nd Badminton

11.24

Shout-out for Tournament Secretary Nick Waite, who – riding around on his bike putting up posters – had the time to direct poor little lost Raf Sanchez towards blog central. Obviously he got bored of sending tournament schedules every morning…

11.23

Slightly further afield than 22 acres, Jenson Button is fastest in today’s F1 practice in Spain, and England’s destruction of the Windies at Lord’s will have to wait until after the rain stops.

11.16

Ashley and Chu have won the third game of their Men’s 2nd Badminton tie, coming back from a game down to win the set. The crowd are gong wild apparently – no surprise, that looks like 2 safe points for York.

11.14

Roses is, of course, more than just the sport. Tonight there’s the Roses Revolt, which appears to cost £8 and allow entry to campus bars… I suppose that’s certainly one way to get the failing businesses filled, right?

Saturday night there will be the Roses Rave, in the Courtyard with some chap called Joe Driscoll and those Bodyrox-ers, who I think made that catchy ‘Yeah Yeah’ track.

I’m sure Lacy will be dancing.

11.09

If York can maintain those leads through the 9 rubbers, then Lancaster’s early lead will be completely eroded. Get those cocks shuttling, York…

11.06

Ok news from Badminton. After the three opening matches, York’s mixed team are 2 games to 1 up, with 6 to play. The Mens B are on course for a 3-0 lead, with Alex Chu and Chris Ashley currently dominating the visitors. Looking good there.

11.03

It’s pretty quiet here, both in blog central and down at the pavilion. Only Badminton in play, with no results decided as yet, and cricket coming up. News just in Frisbee fans – events there are delayed until 1300.

10.57

Doctor Shergold has headed out to his seminar – even the greatest campus journalists have a degree to do. But don’t fear, we have a team of crack reporters to keep you up to date as everything happens. Albeit it slowly at the start. The afternoons looks set to liven up, with Rugby, Squash and Skiing all highly contested with all to play for.

10.49

As we stock up on the biscuits to see us through the weekend to come, talk in the office has turned to predictions. How many of the 70 points available do you think York can bag today? Foy thinks 50, Doctor Shergold hedges his bets at 45, as does Mr Leigh Clarke. What do you think? Have we hit the spot or are we far out? Let us know and post your predictions below…

10.47

More news through from the Badminton, the Men’s 2nds have won their first set. Further congratulations.

10.40

News just in from the floor, Foy reports seeing two rugby players, suited up and commenting that ‘the ground seems a bit hard.’ A little ominous perchance? Perhaps the rugby team will be praying for a change in the glorious sunshine before 2pm today…

10.36

So our first pair of York contestants have won their match, let’s hope they’ll be many more to follow.

Messers Foy and Doctor Shergold have headed into the (slowly) growing throng of sports players and enthusiasts. 10 points if you can spot them at the media tent.

10.32

Results just in from the Men’s 2nd Badminton, our first event of this year’s Roses. James Hor and Tom Gatenby (team captain) have just won their doubles match 21 -14. Congratulations to them

10.27

Our very own Andrew Brown reports in from the Badminton in the Main Sports Hall. It’s started a bit late apparently, but there’s a good crowd gathering and the atmosphere is encouraging. Good stuff.

10.17

With Badminton and Equestrian under way, Nouse reporters are now out in the field (or Sports Centre…) eagerly awaiting the first scores…keep it tuned.

And if you’re thinking of tearing yourself away from the blog and heading down to the action yourselves, be sure to grab yourselves a copy of the beautiful handbook to Roses 2009, edited by our very own Doctor Shergold. Or stay where you are, and let us do the work for you.

10.10

For the uneducated, Dr. Shergold has compiled a handy set of reference articles to bring you bang up to date with Roses itself.

Take a minute to read the history of the tournament, and then relive last year’s tense finale, before getting the lowdown on York’s chances today.

Our in-house sports experts reckon Women’s Squash are a complete shoo-in today, with Men’s Badminton and Ski-ing also thought to be easy points for the hosts. Some chat about Max Hardy here in the office. Did he get his funding? BC to the VC. Quite.

10.06

I don’t know about you, but I think Chris Northwood’s brand-spanking new Blogging system is pretty bloody sweet, hey? No refreshes, no worries. Just smooth, graphically-enhanced blogging beautifulness.

10.03

Let’s introduce the Nouse team: Sports supremos Dan “Fantasy Football” Hyde and Adam “The Doctor” Shergold will be leading the charge, ably supported by Natasha Tranter. Our team of dedicated reporters include Jon Halstead, Nabeel Moosa, Andrew Brown, Huw Harrow, Leigh Clarke and Matt “Old Man” Jeynes.

Gorgeous George Lowther will be snapping away, with help from Sam Newsome, Alexandru Hristea, Justyn Hardcastle and Arran Bowen-la Grange, Nouse’s very own French Lord.

Blogging away will be Sian Turner, Nicky Woolf, Raf Sanchez and me, Henry James Foy, with numerous others lending a helping hand.

09.59

While Roses will, of course, dominate today’s coverage, we’ll also be keeping our eyes on the cricket at Lords, where England could win the first test against the Windies in an unbelievable three days, with only 8 more wickets needed.

09.57

Today’s highlights, for all of you making the trip to campus, look set to be the Rugby 7s at 2PM on 22 acres, and the Badminton Firsts from 3pm in the Sports Hall.

In terms of points though, Alex Lacy and Lancaster’s Gaz Coleman will be nervously waiting for results from Rossendale, where 14 points will be decided by the Ski-ing events.

Let’s hope all those free shots in Val Thorens helped the York training…

09.53

Right, we’re al ready to go now after a brief tussle with mobile technology.

Up at 10, eyes on the Badminton and the Equestrian events, with 12 points on offer in the Mixed and Mens 2nd events in the Sports Hall, and both the 1st and 2nds at Snainton Riding Centre.

09.41

So, here’s the state of play for Friday. With 5 events down, York trail the visitors by 8 points to 2, after a clean sweep in the Canoeing for Lancaster, followed by a 4-wicket win by York’s Mens’ Seconds Cricket team.

70 points to play for today.

09.37

Ladies and gentlemen, York and Lancaster, the sun is shining and the sky is blue – there is a crispness to the air, and 22 acres is still…

Welcome to Roses 2009, the 45th edition of Europe’s largest Inter-University sports competition. Stay tuned all day and all weekend for the most up-to-date and entertaining coverage of the weekend’s action.

Nouse will be with you every step of the way, every goal, basket, point and score – until one University reaches the magic number of points: 138.

And, there’s no need to refresh this page every minute to stay up to date – the post will refresh themselves. Also, you can stay with us twitter.com/nouselive

Let the games commence.