UK Student Archery Association

Inside and Outside SWWU [17/Apr/15]

The SWWU tables have recently been brought up to date, with results for match 2 (from Telford) and matches 3 and 4 all now incorporated in to the league standings. Between them, Bath and Swansea won all of the senior and novice matches and although Bath are now strong favourites for the senior league, the novice table is very delicately poised.

Match 2 was extracted from BUCS scores using the traditional SWWU formula of mandatory mixed gender team of 4. Bath took the match on 2211, whilst Swansea and Exeter were second and third on 2140 and 2115. Cardiff and Plymouth also broke 2000 as 9 unis shot in a SWWU match for the first time. Alex Hickson (Bath) and Gerda Pociunaite (Exeter) scored 576 and 562. In the novice match, Swansea took the honours, 7 points off 1400, with Bath in second on 1315, Exeter just keeping out Plymouth and Cardiff over the 1200 mark. Nigel Moyo (Swansea) scored 495.

After match 2: Bath 20, Exeter & Swansea 17. Novices Swansea 20, Bath 18, Exeter 16.

Match 3 was a FITA 18 hosted at Pentref on 15th March and saw Swansea end Bath's run of 10 consecutive SWWU match wins, across three years. Swansea scored 1838 to finish a mere 12 points ahead of Bath's 1826. This is Swansea's first outright victory since the 2009/10 season, where they won SWWU with 4 wins from 4. Gavin Tsang (Swansea) scored 501, whilst there were low 520s for Alex Hickson and Jonty Troop (both Bath). Exeter were third overall on 1777. Sarah Bettles (Cardiff) top scored in the match with 525, but her side were well adrift in fourth, the last complete team of 4. In the novice match the 4 teams finished in the same order, with Swansea narrowly beting Bath again.

After match 3: Bath 29, Swansea 27, Exeter 25. Novices Swansea 30, Bath 27, Exeter 24.

Match 4 was held a mere six days later at Swansea, but took place outdoors, over a St George, Albion and Windsor. Bath took the honours again with a combined total of 2324, but this time it was new boys Cardiff who pushed them all the way as Cardiff scored 2278, to see off Swansea, with Exeter well off the pace in fourth. Top individuals were Alex Hickson (Bath) 792 and Sarah Bettles (Cardiff) 753. Behind Bath, there was more joy for some of the novice Welsh sides as Cardiff were second and Aberystwyth third. On home soil however, Swansea however were fourth and saw their 3 point lead in the novice table evaporate. Ellie Pomroy (Bath) was top novice by a distance with 609.

Cardiff's results in match 4 (2nd and 2nd) are their best so far in a debut season that has shown they can already compete with SWWU's traditionally stronger teams. Cardiff are even within reach of a possible senior team podium finish - 2 points behind third placed Exeter with 2 matches remaining. DNSs have made an unwelcome return

After match 4: Bath 39, Swansea 35, Exeter 32. Novices Bath & Swansea 37, Exeter 30.

See the current SWWU standings. There are two more matches, a 1440 and Metrics at Bath on 25th April and scores taken from BUCS Outdoors. Swansea look unlikely to stop Bath winning the senior league, but the novice table is on a knife edge following the abrupt reversal of fortune for Swansea's novices on home turf.

SSS Outdoors will now take the form of the BUCS weekend with a 1440 and Metrics on the Saturday and a H2H event on the Sunday. This will be hosted by Edinburgh on 25th/26th April. SSS Indoor Champs results have been altered, following the discovery of a mistake. A typo gave Stuart Charters (St Andrews) 433 instead of 533, boosting St Andrews' team total by the full 100 points, lifting them from 6th (out of 7) up to 3rd.

The destination of the NEUAL crown remains in doubt. Four results were extracted from BUCS Indoors, whilst results from three of the final four matches have also been published. If Lancaster have won the remaining match (or are second with over 2068) then they will be champions, otherwise it will be Liverpool. Both sides are battling to win their second senior NEUAL title.