A fine, early Spring afternoon saw the College Rugby 10 man a-side event take centre-stage on 22 acres for its annual drama. With all eight colleges in action across five hours, a feast of sport was promised for players and spectators alike. However, it was to be the impressive Alcuin who came away with the bragging rights, putting an end to James’ talk of a fourth, consecutive title.
Derwent, Alcuin, Halifax and James had proved their rugby credentials earlier in the day, with each progressing from their group stages, and securing their places in the four semi-final places on offer at the start of play.
Unsurprisingly, James college finished top of their group, winning all three games with Vanburgh and Langwith proving little match for them, and eventual – second placed Halifax losing 24-7 points. But, with the latter recording victory over Langwith at the start of play by 17-0, and inflicting the same score on a dismal Vanburgh team afterwards, Halifax’s fate in the next round was already assured.
Alcuin likewise managed all-perfect in the preliminary rounds, as they sent out an early warning to their counterparts. Following victory against Goodricke, they then went to dismantle a Wentworth team, who had only managed one try all afternoon, by 51 points to nil. Their clash with group rivals, Derwent brought about a tighter affair, nonetheless, but the team in red survived, with a 24-14 victory. Despite defeat, Derwent followed in the footsteps of Halifax from the other group, managing maximum points from their other two games, defeating both Wentworth and Goodricke, without giving away a single try.
The first of the semi-final saw Alcuin and Halifax paired against one another. Playing with the wind in their favour, Halifax took an early 5-0 lead, but were to soon find themselves staring at defeat, following a resurgent, Alcuin display. A 22-10 victory by Alcuin was confirmed, and they could now scout the other semi-final, knowing of their place in the final.
In an eagerly anticipated semi-final draw, a spirited Derwent display saw them race to a half-time 5-0 victory over James, only to come undone by a late 2nd half onslaught. Although up against it for the majority of the game, James managed to grind out a closer than recorded 14-5 victory; it was very much the response from a team who had won the tournament the last three years.
Buoyed by their 22-10 victory over Halifax in the other semi-final draw, and seeing their final opponents stumble across the line against Derwent, Alcuin stole the early momentum in the final match. Scores recorded seven points to five in Alcuin’s favour at the interval with the only difference between the sides being a try conversion. Unlike their previous match, however, James weren’t able to be so fortunate in their 2nd half display. Instead, it was to be Alcuin’s day, managing to score three second half tries to register a 22-5 victory over James. James’ reign as college rugby champions was over, and it was time for the team in red to begin the celebrations.
All Photos by Daniel Gilks
Good analysis of the day. Good to see James knocked off their perch. Admittedly Alcuin were helped by the extreme physicality of the James semi final match, having personally played both teams in the tournament, I’d have given the title to neither, but instead the people’s champions, Derwent.
I still struggle to see the point of college rugby. With the uni putting out 3 sides, 2 of which are hugely competitve in their current divisions, surely they is scope for everyone who wants to play rugby within that club. While the effort and commitment of people playing in the college rugby competitions cannot be faulted I can’t see why people are willing to put this much effort into college sport and not into representing the uni? There are clearly some very talented players on the college circuit – think what a rugby powerhouse the university could truly become if such people channelled these efforts.
Hi Anon,
I agree with your comments made about there being ‘some very talented players’ and ‘the effort and commitment of people’ who were playing on Saturday. I thought the standard of rugby on show, particularly the semi-final and final stage, was fantastic (bearing in mind, some of those representing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams weren’t available on the day). The tournament illustrated there’s a lot of decent players from the university, and there will be other good players out in the university as well who didnt try out for their colleges. However, from what I saw of the players who represent the 1sts, 2nds and 3rds, they were the stand-out performers on Saturday.
I believe the main handicap we aren’t the so-called ‘rugby powerhouse’ which you referred to, is because we don’t possess anywhere near the level of students of the Sheffield’s and Newcastle’s, and other northern universities. If we had the same quantity of students as the larger universities I think we would be a real force.
Personally, I don’t see college sporting events as pointless. People take a lot of pride in their colleges and it also enables those students which may not quite make it on to the university levels to go out and excel themselves on college level.
Cheers,
Stephen