Semi-final heartbreak for men’s fencers
Image: Peter Iveson
UNIVERSITY OF YORK 115
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM 132
York’s men’s fencers suffered heartbreak in the semi-finals of the BUCS trophy as they lost 115–132 to Birmingham despite a spirited performance. Having lost the Foil by 40 points to 45 the hosts fought back to take the Sabre 45-42 before Birmingham comfortably won the Epee by 45 points to 30.
York were under no illusions at the task facing them. Captain Tom Skingle said his side were the “underdogs” as Birmingham had lost only two matches all season coming into this encounter, and both of those narrowly to Loughborough.
It was a high tempo beginning with plenty of commitment and aggression on show. In a tense opening bout, Harry Whitwell lost 3-5 to Mike Baillie before Phil Sellers went down 5-1 as the visitors raced into a six point lead.
Despite Captain Tom Skingle winning two points back for the hosts York lost the next bout 5-1 as they found themselves eight points adrift with Birmingham firmly in control. However with the visitors comfortably in the driving seat Harry Whitwell took the first 9 points against Matt Fitzsimon as York dragged themselves level. Yet the home side were never able to stay on top for long as Tom Skingle failed to win a single point against Tom Potterton and although Phil Sellers dragged York back into contention once more, the hosts were always playing catch-up and Birmingham went on to take the Foil 40-45.
Images: Peter Iveson
However York were by no means out of it and came out fighting in the Sabre. Pavel Guzanovs, playing his first match of the year for York, set an electrifying pace that saw his side go 5-3 in front despite taking a nasty knock to his wrist. This was to be a contest that swung one way and then the other as Lawrence Reid put Birmingham ahead with a 7-2 victory over Adrian Speakman before Tom Jones and Pavel Guzanovs put York in a commanding position. However a nine point victory for Tom Potterton put Birmingham back in front with a three point lead.
Nevertheless a tense bout between Tom Jones and Luke Frostick saw the York fencer edge the hosts in front before some composed fencing from Guzanovs saw York claim the Sabre by 45 points to 42.
With York just two points behind Birmingham with one weapon to go, there was every reason for the home side to believe they could make it to the final. However the epee proved to be their undoing. Nevertheless the hosts got off to a good start with the first bout being tied before the second ended in rather bizarre fashion as it was declared void with neither fencer scoring a point inside the first minute. It thus fell to Tom Skingle to gain the initiative for his side as he put York 15-11 up.
However this was as good as things got for the home side and their hopes of making the final. Tom Parkin won seven points for the visitors as Birmingham embarked on a run that would see them win all the remaining bouts. Not even a tactical substitution or the resilient efforts of Tom Skingle and Harry Whitwell could save the home side as anchor Whitwell found himself needing to do the impossible and win 16 points in the final bout, which he eventually lost 5-4 as Birmingham took the Epee by 45 points to 30.
The frustration and disappointment was evident for all to see but Captain Tom Skingle looked to put a positive spin on things as he praised his side after the match saying “we’ve done really well, it had to end sometime.”
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