- Photo: Dave Hughes
Although the main focus on Sunday was White Rose Varsity 2012, crucial wins for James and Halifax were attained in college hockey.
The top two continued their excellent form, keeping on the pressure against one another. First up at 9am, the sort of time when most of campus was still tucked up in bed, James faced a potentially tricky task against a talented Alcuin side.
However once more Alcuin were crippled by their normal problem of lack of numbers, with only six Alcuin players attending, in comparison to the full side that James were able to field.
Against all odds, Alcuin put up a resilient fight, limiting a James side, which contained several university players, to a 5-0 victory. Saying that James had scored double figures against other sides with close to full teams, that was no mean feat from Alcuin, on what was a difficult morning.
After victory for James, it was crucial for Halifax to respond, and they did exactly that in resounding fashion with an 8-0 thumping of Langwith. Langwith were able to field a full team, but they were powerless to resist the superior skill on display from Halifax, who led 2-0 within 5 minutes and had scored five before half time.
Academic Officer Graeme Osborn finished as the star performer with four goals to his name, but there were numerous key contributors, in a dominant Halifax display.
If Alcuin’s problems in fielding a team were bad, Vanbrugh had it even worse, managing to only rouse 2 people out of bed and down to the astro. Therefore they had to forfeit their game to Derwent who claimed victory.
A friendly was then played between Derwent and an opposition side made up of players from Vanbrugh, as well as James and Alcuin players who had stayed from the previous game. Derwent slipped to a 3-0 defeat in the friendly, but in reality the result was meaningless.
Meanwhile, Wentworth continued to be unable to fulfil their fixtures, handing a free victory to Goodricke, who got the morning off. The top two are now well clear, and the battle will resume next Sunday in the fight for top place.
Vision Player of the Day: Graeme Osborn