UK Student Archery Association

Photo finish for NEUAL, pt 2/2 [21/Apr/08]

The final weekend of NEUAL competition took place on 23rd/24th Feb. There were two match on the Saturday (Bradford v Leeds v Liverpool and York v Sheffield v Northumbria) and the final match on the Sunday (Liverpool v Durham v Sheffield) with both Sheffield and Liverpool in action on both days.

On the Saturday in Bradford, Leeds beat Liverpool by 30 points 2074 to 2044, the hosts a distant third, Leeds also winning the novice match comfortably. Northumbria, who have taken no part in any NEUAL matches were replaced in the match (and quite possibly the League in 08/09) by guests Huddersfield. York and Sheffield were very closely matched sides - so close in fact that they finished dead level on 2131. There were no misses on either team so the match went to golds where it was York who came out on top 74 to 71. In the novice match it was extremely close but it was York who came out on top again, this time by the relatively large margin of 8 points, 1419-1411.

After the Saturday's action, Keele were still top of the senior table having finished on 46, York and Lancaster on 44. Both Durham and Sheffield had 37 heading into the last match - meaning the winner would win the title. If Liverpool (on 33 points) won the match then second place could be enough for Durham or Sheffield if they could overhaul Keele (Keele-haul? [What a pun - Ed.]) on aggregate which would require at least 2102 (Sheffield) or 2133 (Durham). The maths for the novice table was simpler if finely balanced. Victory for York had lifted them to 56 points, the same as Leeds but York's novices had an aggregate of 8061, nearly 100 clear. Durham on 43 points were too far back, but Sheffield were on 46 and could tie the leaders only if they won the last match. If Sheffield won they would need to score over 1224 to finished ahead of Leeds and over 1318 to finish ahead of York and snatch the novice title.

In the final match of the season it was Sheffield who were victorious on 2119 taking the senior league title on 47 points. Astonishingly Durham and Liverpool served up the second tie of the weekend as both finished on 2058, Durham had no misses to Liverpool's three to take second place in the match on hits. In the novice match Sheffield were pursued all the way by Durham, eventually coming out winners by only 12, but crucially with 1474, enough to go past York and Leeds [corr.] at the top of the table.

Rarely can a league have served up so many close matches, the complexion of the table changing on a match by match basis - incredibly the top six sides had match averages within 45 of each other. Sheffield's title win came from their consistency over the season, but they were worthy winners with the highest aggregate and never dropping below second. Indeed the margin of victory could have been more comprehensive if they had got the decision and won the Indoor Champs (see part 1) or come out on the right side of their draw with York. Keele and Durham both had opportunities to win but had to settle for podium positions. The novice league was unbelievably close. York's novices were 12 points away from victory - the 12 points that Sheffield finished ahead of Durham in the last match and also 3 points away from victory, the margin of their defeat to Leeds' novices earlier in the season. They beat Sheffield by only 8 to ensure a close finish, but Sheffield came through again on the line to complete a remarkable double.

Final senior standings were Sheffield 47, Keele 46 (10600), Durham 46 (10525). Final novice standings were Sheffield 56 (8217), York 56 (8061), Leeds 56 (7967). NUTC (= BUTC * NEUAL) took place this weekend - results are not yet available, but I bet it was close.