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Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
James Tompkinson reviews an excellent pre-season victory for the York City Knights against Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos
Written by Ronan Joyce
Favourites for the competition have to be Alcuin 1sts, winners of both the Autumn and Spring 1sts’ leagues. Indeed, Myles Preston’s team have shown a level of consistency unrivalled across the college spectrum throughout the winter months, and the squad can only benefit from the relaxation of University 1st team quotas for the summer term. While the winter leagues permit only one University 1sts player to be on the pitch for his side at any time, the summer cup removes all such restrictions.
With that in mind, Preston is relishing Alcuin’s assault on an unprecedented ‘treble’, all the while acknowledging that "a certain amount of luck is going to be needed’ to emerge victorious- a feat he admits would be historic."
A lot will depend on how some of our first years transfer to playing 11-a-side on the astro[turf],
"A lot will depend on how some of our first years transfer to playing 11-a-side on the astro[turf]" Preston says, whilst admitting Alcuin’s reliance on some of their more senior players: "The form of our big-game players like Henry Smith and Dan Cox will go a long way to deciding whether we are good enough to win this tournament."
Undoubtedly, the possibility of uniting University 1st team players Smith and Murrills increases Alcuin’s options, but it is this ruling that makes Goodricke favourites, according to Preston. Adam Lewis, Goodricke 1sts’ captain, will have at his disposal Ramsden, Wilson and O’Shea. Such a trio has made Preston believe "the pressure is on them."
With words that seem to commence the psychological mind games, the Alcuin captain emphasises the difficult position Goodricke 1sts are in: "They haven't won anything in quite a while, and with all of the University football options that they’ve got, anything less than victory would be a massive disappointment for them."
Such an assessment has been dismissed by Lewis, who accuses Preston of "trying to stoke the fire." Indeed, the defiance of the Goodricke captain suggests his Alcuin counterpart is in danger of getting his hand burnt. Lewis states merely that his side ‘can’ win the competition, but stresses the openness of a competition where a seconds’ team (Halifax 2nds) reached last year’s final four.
"A lot of players are leaving at the end of the year so this is their last chance of silverware" says Lewis. "[They] will be even more motivated as they haven't won anything this year despite having such a good team. It’s no use saying we’re good when we don’t produce."
Lewis is looking at the positives regarding his University 1st team options, and rather than seeing their presence as tantamount to extra pressure, he emphasises the added class these players bring: "The experience of Dom, Wils and Rambo, who can all play together now, will add to the steely determination of the squad."
Unquestionably, both Alcuin and Goodricke 1st teams will have much to say about the destiny of this year’s competition. With Alcuin the league champions and Goodricke last year’s Astroturf 6-a-side champions, their credentials are clear for all to see. Preston has singled out Jack Delaney as a key figure for Alcuin, while Goodricke will no doubt look to talisman Owen Grafham, bound to benefit from the additional class of University 1sts’ players.
All this said, the competition is not solely Goodricke vs. Alcuin, and the 1st teams of Vanbrugh, Derwent and Halifax will certainly be there or there abouts. There is also a depth of 2nd teams who will eagerly eye a run beyond the group stages, most notably Vanbrugh, Goodricke and Derwent.
All will begin to unfold a few weeks from now, with the group stages consisting of four groups of four- the top two progressing to knockout quarter finals. Before that, a third team qualifying competition will take place, the winners entering the main event. And while seeding implies the big guns are likely to progress early on, the unpredictability of the college arena suggests it will be explosive from the very start.
HA! Me and Jonny Mac et al would love to have had the chance at another match with Boca Seniors, but alas the 5s tourny will not run this term. Although I've never been in a team that has won it, most of my demons were exorcised last term with a thumping 6-1 win over DDU.
Also, everyone knows that higher calibre players participate in the 6-a-side tourny.
But to answer your question - the critics are correct!
As much as I enjoy playing for Alcuin I think one player (and in fact college) is being massively overlooked as an inspirational force- Halifax's Paul 'the wall' Nightingale.
'The wall'? You mean Lord Strappington...right?
Don't you mean 'Chunder'?
Or 'bottler'?
"Alcuin current holders"? I'm almost certain that Derwent won it last year on pens, Ian tells me regularly how he saved the penalty...
Not much has been said about us, with new captains there will be new ideas and being able to play Alex and Greg on the same pitch will be a big boost to Derwent 1sts. And our 2nds are always strong, winning the 2nds league last term (although it was a close-run thing with Alcuin and Halifax 2's unlucky to miss out).
Not just saying this to be flammatory but, I think Langwith will struggle, obviously there 1sts will be alright, but in recent terms it's felt that their 1's and 2's are almost identical teams, and with the hopefully more enforced rules on players playing for more than one team will they have enough quality to fill 2 squads? (or 3 if they're entering a 3rds teams).
Greenie
A couple of errors from you there Greenie:
I think you'll find that Alcuin 2nds won the league last term on goals scores.
Secondly, the final last year WAS won by Derwent, BUT there were no penalties involved. It was a 1-0 win.
However, we do agree on one thing - Derwent firsts will be a force, and should win their group comfortably. On the other hand, Derwent 2nds probably won't get out of their group ahead of Vanbrugh and Goodricke.
Then I am misinformed by my sports rep, who only last night said something about some result updates and us winning with more points? Oh well. I was quite happy with joint first...
You're a good memory jogger, pens were in semi against goodricke i think, and it was dimond (formerly davies) who scored right? I should probably know...
Derwent 2nds had a tough group last year with 3 firsts teams, and came 3rd only on goal difference, I fancy our chances.
Apparently, the results on fixtures live are incorrect for derwent 2nds, and when there was a vote to decide what happened if the league went down to goal difference, goals scored would be the next port of call - Hence Alcuin 2nds winning.
The semi wasn't against Goodricke, you knocked out my boys - Halifax 1sts.
Myles "mind-games" Preston has gone quiet all of sudden. Has he bottled it in the fashion of Paul Nightingale?
Myles 'mind games' Preston gets pedicures.
and manicures
seriously? no... we definitely played goodricke at some point... i'm getting well confused.
results wrong? thats news to me. this fixtures live thing sounds like more hassle than it's worth...
I see George has installed Alcuin as favourites...but only just! Check his profile page (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=222300151)
But for the lazy I've just pasted his prices -
Alcuin 1s _______7/2
Goodricke 1s ____9/2
Vanburgh 1s____ 5/1
Halifax 1s_______5/1
Derwent 1s______11/2
James 1s________13/2
Langwith 1s______8/1
Alcuin 2s________10/1
Derwent 2s______14/1
Goodricke 2s____14/1
Van 2s___________14/1
Halifax 2s________16/1
James 2s_________22/1
Lang 2s__________28/1
Wentworth 1s_____33/1
Qualifier__________50/1
Sure to create some debate!
Derwent beat Goodricke 2-1 in the quarters last year.
Loving the odds - At those odds, Derwent have got to be worth a punt.
Mark McKay at first goal scorer was always worth a go.
Textbook. His finish for the second was absolutely class. He was sick after the game!
Piv picked himself to be first goal scorer last night - shame George was having none of it!
Whats this rumour going around that Goodricke firsts got spanked by their second team today?
Was it really a good idea for Adlou to organise a friendly when a lot of his players were away anyway? Cant be good for the morale of the players that were playing in this crushing defeat...
Good result for Langwith 1sts today!
Lol
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