UK Student Archery Association

Lancaster leapfrog Liverpool [11/Mar/15]

There are a lot of results flying around at this time of the year, making it one of the busier times of the student archery (and thus the UKSAA) year. This article reviews the third batch of NEUAL fixtures, matches 9 to 12, and the NEUAL Indoor Champs, hosted by Huddersfield.

The third batch of NEUAL fixtures were held across two weekends, with two fixtures on 31st January and two on 14th February. Scores from BUCS Indoors (held on 7th Feb) will comprise the scores for the fourth set of NEUAL matches. This means that half of NEUAL shot their "fourth" match before their "third" match - and half shot them the conventional way around.

One of the 31st Jan fixtures provided the closest battle for first place as Sheffield narrowly edged out Liverpool 2143 points to 2130. Curtis Tatner and Luke Fox (both Sheffield) hit 574 and 565 respectively to top score across the four matches. Bradford scored 2114 to beat Huddersfield and Keele by 100. Huddersfield's total of 2017 meant they beat Keele by only 6. Lancaster's 2155 was narrowly the top team score of the set as they won their match with no resistance at all. Meanwhile Newcastle claimed their maiden NEUAL match win seeing off York and Hull, with all three sides in the 1900s.

In the equivalent novice fixtures, there were big wins for Keele and Lancaster, whilst Sunderland fought off Liverpool and Hull beat York in the other matches. Lancaster's 1445 was the best team score with Jack Keates and Jay Tserkezie both over 500 for the Red Roses, but the top novice score came from Alan Millard (York) on 533.

With NEUAL's points structure, performance at the Indoor Champs is critical. It offers a second chance to beat your immediate rivals but a poor performance can see lots of points slip away rather than just one. All 14 NEUAL clubs were present and there was even a guest appearance from Central Lancashire.

Lancaster finished top of the pile on 2191, just ahead of Liverpool's 2177. Bradford, enjoying their best NEUAL campaign for many years, were third on 2137. Sheffield and Hull completed the leading group, either side of 2100. Curtis Tatner (Sheffield) top scored on 565, whilst the other leading sides were mainly made up of low 550s and 540s. Lancaster made it a double, picking up the novice team title as well with 1467, despite 538 from top novice Alex Johnstone (Hull) whose side were second on 1430, just ahead of Liverpool's 1425. Keele were not far behind in fourth.

Before the BUCS scores are incorporated, Lancaster have a one point lead Liverpool in both NEUAL tables. Bradford and Sheffield are not far behind in the senior table, whereas the novice table is a two horse race. Lancaster appear to have won the match that will be extracted from the Telford tallies (v MMU Cheshire v Leeds), so a victory in match 5 (v Sheffield v Huddersfield v Newcastle) would secure their second senior NEUAL title. The Red Roses' previous senior NEUAL title came in 2009.