UK Student Archery Association

Dundee lead SUS scrap for second [18/Feb/09]

After three league matches in the first half of February, the contest for second place in the SUS tables (both senior and novice) looks open.

First up was Strathclyde at home to Dundee and St Andrews on Sat 7th Feb. Dundee got their campaign off to the perfect start, easily winning the novice match and winning the senior match by over 100, despite missing out on the magical 2000 by the slimmest of possible margins. St Andrews beat Strathclyde into second 1872 to 1831. Top score in the match was Dundee novice Alexandre Foito on 521.

The following weekend saw Napier in action twice, firstly on Sat 14th Feb away to St Andrews against the Fife side and Edinburgh. Napier's defence of the SUS Novice League title got off to the worst possible start as they were comfortably pushed aside by a formidable Edinburgh side first and by St Andrews in second. The senior teams finished in the same order. Edinburgh's 2270 comprising Lizzie Williams' 572 with Erik Rowbotham, Naomi Jones and Kyshiea Steele all contributing in the 560s. St Andrews scored 1976 to Napier's 1899. Cindy Law (Edinburgh) was the top novice with a 548.

The following day Napier won a close encounter with Dundee, who missed out on a opportunity to join Edinburgh on maximum points. Napier finished on 1975, with a 551 from Dan Wielding as Dundee finished only 16 behind. Dundee gained revenge in the novice team category, winning easily. Aberdeen, the third team in the match fielded only three recurves, one of whom was a novice although that did include a 562 from James Pike, top score in the match.

There are two SUS League fixtures remaining - Heriot-Watt v Edinburgh v Dundee on Sat 28th Feb and Strathclyde v Napier v Heriot-Watt on Sat 14th Mar. The first fixture coincides with BUTC which requires Edinburgh to be in two places at once - clearly this fixture should have been moved. Dundee and Edinburgh will face off directly for the Novice League, the pair both on 6 points with one game remaining. Edinburgh have a better match average and although this gap becomes cavernous at senior level, Dundee have established themselves as favourites to finish runners up in both tables.