College Cup hots up as Group Stages reach climax

All Photos: Oliver Todd, Ruth Gibson and Helena Kaznowska

After 48 games, 170 goals,  and countless memorable moment’s the 2011 College Cup finally reaches its boiling point, Vision looks at who’s likely to make it into the knock-out rounds of this years tournament.

Group 1

Team	Pld	Pts	GD
Vanbrugh 1sts	4	9	+10
James 1sts	4	9	+8
Halifax 2nds	4	9	+8
Wentworth 2nds	4	6	-1
Goodricke 3rds	4	3	-3
Vanbrugh 4ths	4	0	-22

Monday:
2pm: Vanbrugh 1sts v Goodricke 3rds
3pm: Vanbrugh 4ths v James 1sts
4pm: Halifax 2nds v Wentworth 2nds

The main focus of Monday’s action looks to be the race for goals between Vanbrugh 1sts, James, 1sts and Halifax 2nds, as all three still hope to qualify for the knock-out stages. With none of the three playing one another, the group looks to draw to an exciting close, with all three likely to be desperate to score enough goals to pip one another on goal difference. With Vanbrugh 1sts in the most promising position, James will no doubt look towards the recent good form of Mark Mcleod and Tom Clarke and hope to build up a decent goal difference against debutants Vanbrugh 4ths ahead of Halifax 2nds game at 4pm. Ironically, finishing 2nd in the group could be the better position to finish in, with the runners-up potentially facing James 3rds. Wentworth 3rds meanwhile look nailed on to join the least fortunate of the three big sides in the plate, with Goodricke 3rds joining Vanbrugh 4ths in exiting the competition at the first hurdle.

Vision Predicts: The two 1sts sides to qualify, the two 2nds sides for the plate, where Halifax 2nds could be the team to beat.

Group 2

Team	Pld	Pts	GD
James 3rds	4	9	+2
Goodricke 1sts	4	8*	+7
Derwent 2nds	4	7	+4
Langwith 1sts	4	4	-2
Vanbrugh 3rds	4	3	-6
Alcuin 2nds	4	1	-5

*Goodricke 1sts deducted 2 points for fielding an ineligible player.

Tuesday:
2pm: James 3rds v Vanbrugh 3rds
3pm: Alcuin 2nds v Goodricke 1sts
4pm: Langwith 1sts v Derwent 2nds

3 teams still able to qualify for the cup, All 6 still able to qualify for the plate. Group 2 is the College Cup’s most open. Predicted to be the “Group of Death” at the start of the tournament, it has certainly lived up to its billing. On what could be an exciting final day, Goodricke 1sts and James 3rds will be the favourites to qualify for the next round, holding the two prime positions as it stands, and facing the bottom two teams, last years plate runners-up Alcuin 2nds and Vanbrugh 3rds respectively. Derwent 2nds will hope to overhaul James 3rds, although realistically, the positions currently held in the group should stay as they are.

Vision Predicts: Surprise package of the tournament so far, James 3rds to qualify, probably alongside Goodricke 1sts, despite their points deduction as they face a poor Alcuin 2nds side. Derwent 2nds should defeat Langwith 1sts in the final game of the day, leaving Langwith to cling onto their place in the plate, if Vanbrugh 3rds fail to win earlier in the day.

Group 3

Team	Pld	Pts	GD
Derwent 1sts	4	12	+13
Wentworth 1sts	4	7	+6
Goodricke 2nds	4	7	-1
Halifax 3rds	4	5	+2
Langwith 2nds	4	3	-5
Alcuin 3rds	4	0	-15

Thursday:
2pm: Wentworth 1sts v Langwith 2nds
3pm: Goodricke 2nds v Derwent 1sts
4pm: Alcuin 3rds v Halifax 3rds

Group 3 is dominated by College League and Roses Champions Derwent, who are looking to complete a treble and avenge last years cup final defeat. On Thursday they face 3rd place Goodricke 2nds, who trail Wentworth by 1 goal in the Goal Difference tally. One of the spots in the plate looks to be filled by Halifax 3rds, who looked impressive against Langwith 2nds and will be expected to beat whipping boys Alcuin 3rds, who will most likely be joined by Langwith 2nds in leaving the competition at this stage. Arguably the most predictable of the groups as we move into the final week, although Langwith and Goodricke will both look to cause an upset.

Vision Predicts: Derwent 1sts to claim a 100% record in the group stages against Goodricke, leaving Wentworth to join them in the next round, and seeing Goodricke joined in the plate by Halifax 3rds, who look a far better side than their Langwith or Alcuin counterparts.

Group 4

Team	Pld	Pts	GD
Halifax 1sts	4	12	+12
Vanbrugh 2nds	4	10	+7
Alcuin 1sts	4	7	+11
James 2nds	4	3	-3
Derwent 3rds	4	3	-11
Wentworth 3rds	4	0	-16

Friday:
2pm: Vanbrugh 2nds v Halifax 1sts
3pm: James 2nds v Alcuin 1sts
4pm: Wentworth 3rds v Derwent 3rds

Halifax 1sts, alongside Derwent 1sts, are one of only two sides to hold a 100% record in the competition so far, and hence have already secured qualification. A point for Vanbrugh 2nds, albeit a tough ask against Halifax, would see Kallum Taylor’s side join them in the next round. If they fail to do so, it opens up an opportunity for last years champions Alcuin 1sts, to steal the spot, if they can beat James 2nds by enough goals in the 3pm kick-off game, whilst James will themselves look to claim the points to stave off the challenge for their place in the plate from Derwent 3rds. Wentworth 3rds look to be resigned to exiting the competition. Whoever goes out between Vanbrugh 2nds and Alcuin 1sts will be strong contenders in the plate.

Vision Predicts: Alcuin’s late charge to see them depose Vanbrugh 2nds to qualify alongside Halifax, following defeat to the Halifax 1sts side, leaving them in the second-tier competition, whilst Derwent 3rds push out James 2nds to claim the final place in the plate on an exciting last day of the group stages.

Ultimately, the 2011 edition of the College Cup looks to be one of the most exciting yet. After last year when the 1sts teams breezed through the group stages, it’s refreshing to see sides such as Halifax 2nds, James 3rds and Vanbrugh 2nds shake up the competition a little this year.

You can follow Vision‘s up to the minute updates of the College Cup’s final week of the Group Stages on Twitter: @YorkVisionSport, with match reports and photos on: http://www.yorkvision.co.uk/sport.