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The Yorker's sports team says what they would like for Christmas this year
The second blog for The Yorker from the University of York Riding Club
The Men’s Firsts did very well against Lancaster. It was an away match, which made the win all the sweeter as we hadn’t beaten them on their own turf for at least two years. Due to clashes with other engagements, the team was severely depleted, which also meant people were obliged to fence weapons in which they had no specialisation. The match began with Sabre, the strongest weapon of the team, resulting in a 45-35 lead to York. In a surprising turn of events, the team also won the Foil 45-25, despite the fact that no one on the team specialises in this weapon. According to the captain, Thomas Jones, all the non-foilists performed ‘extremely well’. At this point, the guys needed to secure fifteen points in the last weapon, Epee, in order to come away with a victory: something they achieved, in the words of Jones, ‘mainly down to Skingle’s unbelievable tekkers’ in the weapon’ (Tom Skingle, 3rd year Epeeist). So, despite losing the Epee 33-45, the team came away with an overall victory 123-104, which puts them in second place in the table, being their third win out of four league matches so far this season.
Men’s Firsts: Tom Jones, Tom Skingle, Phillip Sellars, Paul Goddard, George Watkins, Bairong Huang, Bartek Koryga, Alexandre Synadino.
Next Match: Durham Seconds, Wednesday Week 8.
Last week the Women’s team fenced at home against Manchester, another team in the Premier League that hadn't had the best start to the season, having, like them, lost all their initial matches. The prospect of victory was most definitely on everyone’s minds. Again, Sabre was the first weapon, normally the weakest of the team. As a result, the match didn't start quite as they had hoped and after the first two bouts York were down 10-7. They turned it around, however, finishing Sabre with a winning score of 45-41.
Due to the arrival of Sophie Mason, Foil is the strongest weapon of the team this year, although it was still a surprise to the team to win this weapon 45-9. All Foilists did their part and contributed to the forty-point lead in which they entered the final weapon. This overwhelming lead took the pressure off the ladies, but only slightly, given Manchester’s reputation in the weapon and the presence of a French Epeeist on the opposing team who proved the toughest opponent yet. The fight was close all they way, neither team getting a lead and, in breath-taking fashion, by the final bout of the match York were only one point ahead. Unfortunately, they could not hold onto this lead in the Epee and lost 45-44 - overall, though, the day was a resounding success with a final score of 134-95, giving the York ladies the first win they had been looking for.
York Women’s team are currently 4th in the league. The rest of their league matches are in the Spring Term.
Women’s Firsts: Louise Highton, Lizzie Smith, Sophie Mason, Kate Horner, Victoria Somers and Siobhan Shaw
Next Match: Cambridge, BUCS Championship knockout competition, first round, Wednesday Week 8
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