UK Student Archery Association

Nov/Dec Round Up pt 2/2 [16/Dec/08]

Liverpool made a perfect start to NEUAL with two wins out of two. In a disrupted start to the NEUAL calendar Liverpool began at home (Sat 15th Nov) with a 2156 to comfortably defeat Durham who were a shade under 2000. Huddersfield made their NEUAL bow, but only fielded three archers, none novices. Liverpool made it maximum points by also winning novice match easily. A week later Liverpool travelled to Keele to face them and Bradford. The 06/07 champions proved much tougher with 2158, but Liverpool responded with a 2193, Bradford trailing in third. The equivalent novice match had a virtually identical result, with Liverpool overcoming Keele by only 11, Bradford third.

These results mean Liverpool lead both senior and novice tables with an unblemished record so far. The results have also left them as the leading A side in ELeague Division 2, in prime position for promotion after two rounds. If Liverpool continue to improve as the season progresses, NEUAL could easily have its fourth different champion in four years. There was one other NEUAL match which saw Lancaster break 2100 (Sat 22nd Nov) and claim an emphatic 150 point victory over their Roses rivals York. Huddersfield were third again with the same three archers and no novices. York did gain some revenge with a big win in the novice match.

There were also two more SEAL matches to report on (Sat 13th Dec). Despite a 576 from Rob King, Southampton were beaten 2107 to 2138 by Kent, guided home by a 575 from Sam Perkins with Brunel a distant third. In the other match London/ULU crept over 2000 to beat Essex by 40. Disappointingly Sussex recorded another DNS. In the novice fixtures Southampton and Essex were able to turn the tables on Kent and London respectively.

Whilst Liverpool go into Christmas topping both NEUAL tables, it is SEAL newbies Kent and Essex at the summit of their senior and novice tables respectively. There are still many matches left to go, particularly in NEUAL - both leagues should provide some fascinating contests in the new year.