Finale Fortnight for SEAL [27/Mar/19]

All of SEAL match 5 has now happened and the results have been published. In an echo of the SEAL finale 12 months ago, calculators were out and Imperial were (eventually) crowned champions in a nailbiting finish.

After match 4, Imperial led London 55 league points to 54. The Imps were also up by 79 on aggregate, so London would need to beat Imperial by 79 points or by 2 places to take the title. Southampton were the nearest challengers back on 49. They would have a profound, if indirect effect on the title's destination.

Most of the match took place across the weekend of the 9th and 10th March and to add to the sense of theatre, Imperial and London shot directly together. In a very close match, London dipped for the line and made a score of 2155, which was just enough to beat Imperial, who amassed 2145. Sussex were best of the rest on 2094. The gap between them was only 10 points however, which put London and Imperial on 69 points, with Imperial top on match aggregate 10,715 to 10,646.

However, any thoughts that Imperial might have had about popping champagne had to be swiftly corked. A mix-up meant that Portsmouth and Southampton would be using their varsity match scores as their match 5 entry, but this was to take place on 24th March. This might have made little difference, but as things now stood, if either team landed a score in between 2145 and 2155, that would cause Imperial (and not London) to drop a league point, thus annointing London as champions instead.

For a fortnight, everyone waited.

Southampton's top SEAL score this season had been 2121, but in match 5 Southampton were in improved form. They finally posted a score of 2143, two crucial points below Imperial. The Imps retained second place in match 5 and could finally celebrate a 6th senior SEAL title. For London the result was cruelly close, losing out on the overall title on points aggregate for the second time in succession. Southampton were third overall back on 62 points, with East Anglia in 4th on 52 - a victory in match 2 helping the Norwich side match their best ever SEAL senior finish. BUTC hosts Reading and impending BUTC debutantes Sussex were next on 49.

London were top after the first part of match 5 and were mathematically certain to be crowned as SEAL novice champions. They edged out Essex 1457 to 1442. A fortnight later Southampton ended up winning match 5 overall with 1483. Top novice was David Metz (Southampton) on 520, with Yianni Georgiou (Essex) also over 500. London's novices ended the season on 72, Southampton on 67 and Essex on 61. London become SEAL novice champions for the second time after also winning in 2014.

Individually, Jonas Skackauskas (Brunel) warmed up for the bronze medal he would win a week later at BUCS Indoors by top scoring in this match on 584, with Harry Charalambous (East Anglia) the closest challenger on 576 whilst Dominic Collis (London) notched 568. Home hope for BUTC, Oliver Tse (Reading) scored 563, with Stuart MacFarquhar (Southampton) and James Jackson (Sussex) just over the 560 mark.

In a very unusual turn of events, both London's seniors and Southampton's novices won 3 of the 5 league matches but failed to win the overall title. Both squads were largely undone by one poor result and a greater consistency from their rivals. Given how rare tied finishes are at the top of regional leagues, Imperial and London have done so together three times - 2nd and 3rd in 2004, 1st and 3rd in 2018, 1st and 2nd in 2019.

The SEAL 2018/19 page shows results and final tables in full.

BUTC takes place in Reading next weekend. Any teams withdrawing must contact them immediately so that the place can be offered down the waiting list. At time of writing, Exeter B are top of the waiting list. The remaining piece of SEAL business for 2018/19 is SEAL Outdoor Champs, to be held on the bank holiday Monday 27th May in Guildford.

News and Editorials 2018/2019

  • August Update [13/Aug/19]
  • Neapolitan tiro con l'arco [22/Jul/19]
  • National and International [09/Jul/19]
  • Lilleshall Head to Heads [30/Jun/19]
  • BUCS Outdoor 2019 Review [17/Jun/19]
  • Exeter, Warwick successes [23/May/19]
  • UKSAAgram [16/May/19]
  • Directory & Calendar Updates [24/Apr/19]
  • Lilleshall Qualifying Info [16/Apr/19]
  • BUTC 2019 Review [05/Apr/19]
  • Finale Fortnight for SEAL [27/Mar/19]
  • BUCS Indoor 2019 Finals Review [20/Mar/19]
  • Battle for NEUAL - Part 2 [14/Mar/19]
  • Battle for NEUAL - Part 1 [13/Mar/19]
  • Combined BUTTS Champs [08/Mar/19]
  • Saints go marching, win [04/Mar/19]
  • BUCS Qualifiers decided [28/Feb/19]
  • SExSW [22/Feb/19]
  • De Montfort, Warwick wins [14/Feb/19]
  • Pitman pitstops oldest record [11/Feb/19]
  • Strath surge and SSS shocks [04/Feb/19]
  • Deadline day, BUTTS 3 [31/Jan/19]
  • First action of 2019 [23/Jan/19]
  • Discs roll to Reading [15/Jan/19]
  • E-League Round 2 Round Up [11/Jan/19]
  • 3 is the magic number [19/Dec/18]
  • SEAL 1 vs SEAL 2 [14/Dec/18]
  • Bradford lay NEUAL marker [05/Dec/18]
  • BUTTS 3 pointer [28/Nov/18]
  • SSS double for Napier [25/Nov/18]
  • North by South West [21/Nov/18]
  • Warwick 1-1 Birmingham [16/Nov/18]
  • Northumbria return in style [09/Nov/18]
  • Flying start for Fifers [01/Nov/18]
  • BUTC bid dates, BUTC dates [18/Oct/18]
  • BUCS Regional proposals [08/Oct/18]
  • Leeds the way for BUCS [01/Oct/18]
  • 18 Certificate [03/Sep/18]

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