UK Student Archery Association

DNS dictates NEUAL destiny [28/Dec/11]

Results from five of the eight scheduled NEUAL matches have been published as well as the Novice Championships. The other three matches did not take place and are currently listed as a DNS for all teams. The story of the NEUAL season so far is one of attendance, with the five teams having actually contested two senior matches occupying the top five slots in the table at Christmas.

In the first batch of matches, held in November, there were wins for York, Sheffield and a narrow win for NEUAL first timers Sunderland. A solid team effort (all four scores between 534 and 524) saw York score 2116, exactly 50 ahead of Durham, for whom Robert Storrar top scored in this match with 559. Leeds were adrift in third with 1884. The match between Sheffield, Liverpool and Huddersfield finished very similarly. Rory Campbell (Sheffield) top scored with 569 as Sheffield notched 2120. Liverpool were in touch in second place with 2083, whilst Huddersfield managed 1881. New NEUALites Sunderland began their league career with a score of 1810, which turned out to be just enough to win a very closely fought match with nearly new NEUAL-ites Northumbria and MMU Cheshire who scored 1799 and 1790 respectively. Northumbria and MMU Cheshire were both in NEUAL last year, but did not take part in most of their alloted fixtures. It was pleasing therefore to see all three clubs field full sides. In contrast, Bradford v Keele v Lancaster did not take place.

In the second batch of NEUAL fixtures, held in late November/early December, there were only two out of the four fixtures actually held. York posted their second win, albeit with a reduced total of 2053, whilst Sunderland just about held off Huddersfield 1863 to 1821. Top scorer in the match was Daniel Simmons (Sunderland) on 540. Defending champions Keele scored the highest NEUAL score so far with 2191 in a relatively straightforward match, with Durham on 2004, well clear of MMU Cheshire. Top scorers were David Jobin and Neil Robson (both Keele) with 562 and 554. Disappointingly, both Bradford v Liverpool v Northumbria and Lancaster v Leeds v Sheffield were not shot.

In the first batch of novice fixtures, Durham narrowly beat York whilst Leeds failed to field any novices at all. Sheffield beat Liverpool, with both sides over 1300, Hudersfield third. MMU Cheshire beat Northumbria, whilst Sunderland only had one novice. In the second batch of novice fixtures, Huddersfield beat York, with Sunderland incomplete. MMU Cheshire won again, beating Keele and Durham. In the Novice Championships, Sheffield ran out easy winners with 1488, 160 clear of second placed Liverpool, themselves over 100 clear of Keele. Breaking 500 were Harry Day and Marcus Lee (both Sheffield) on 516 and 513. Four clubs DNS.

York are top of the senior table at Christmas after two wins out of two. Perhaps unexpectedly it is Sunderland who currently lie second. The Wearsiders may not stay there but have made an excellent start. Keele and Sheffield have one win and one DNS. Bradford and 2009 champions Lancaster are currently tied for 11th place and have no points at all. York top the novice table.

If any matches currently listed as DNS are held later in the year, then those scores would be included. For sure, a failure to complete fixtures would be the worst possible reason to fail to lift a league title, especially given NEUAL's recent history of photo finishes. The next round of fixtures are scheduled for the last two weekends in January. See the latest NEUAL tables.

The tables from NEUAL 2010/11 have also been officially finalised with a number of matches confirmed as having not occurred. League Organiser Michael Ward has made clear to clubs that all clubs should make the effort to make sure fixtures are fulfilled otherwise some (or potentially all) involved could end up suffering. Clubs should not assume that BUCS scores will be used to cover the gap and as ever, communication is the key.