The Langwith v Derwent Sports Week 2012 came to its conclusion on Friday night, with Derwent eventually crowned champions, after a fantastic week of sport.
The first instalment on the sports week showed that Derwent held a slim lead after two days, and they managed to maintain that throughout the rest of the week. Significant amounts of points were available on Wednesday, through the 100 challenges competition, many of which had no relevance to sport, but regardless still played a key factor in deciding the fate of the week.
Derwent dominated the challenge competition, and in turn picked up a massive 346 points to Langwith’s 241.5 points. Wednesday also played host to some true sporting events in the form of croquet and cricket. At least it was supposed to, apart from Derwent failed to field a cricket team, leading to Langwith attaining the 20 points, and Derwent suffering a points’ deduction.
The final event of the day was the croquet, the sport of gentlemen. Here Derwent prevailed to claw back some of the points they had lost from the cricket. Thursday promised to be another super sporting day, with both Ultimate Frisbee and Tennis planned. However this was curtailed by torrential rain, which led to both events being abandoned. The same fate beset Friday’s touch rugby, but at least the netball was able to be played in the tent.
Here Derwent dominated the group stages, but in the spirit of the competition, a Derwent v Langwith final was fabricated, between the two girls’ teams, in which Derwent ran out narrow victors. The battle for third place, between the two guys’ teams, saw a more interesting style of netball on display, in a game which entailed aspects of numerous sports. The throwing style of Rugby, the contact of American Football, the occasional attempt at basketball, football protesting, and the odd glimpse of netball. It may not have been for the purists, but was played in fantastic spirit, amusing the spectators, and showing the true worth of the competition. Langwith held off the Derwent challenge to run out 6-5 victors, and claim third place. Points wise, Derwent claimed 30, to Langwith’s 25.
The week finished with event night, which Langwith won, claiming the final 25 points, but it only reduced Derwent’s margin of victory. The eventual points tally saw Derwent victorious by 529 points to 482.5.
Prizes were also awarded to those who had distinguished themselves, and superbly represented their college, throughout the week. Boy of the week went to Matt Jones of Langwith, whilst Derwent’s Rachel Brooke was given girl of the week. The award for the most consitent performer was presented to Derwent’s Alex Nicholson, who had participated in numerous events, and the final award was most memorable moment. This was given to Sam Dower for his remarkable own goal in the netball, the skill involved in scoring that is unthinkable.
It truly was a superb sporting week, and Derwent Sports Rep Simon Varley, who was instrumental in organising the whole week, commented; “It’s been a great week which has managed to get everyone together. Both colleges have competed well, we’ve had lots of people involved, more than regularly in college sport, and everyone’s enjoyed it.”
Asked if anything, apart from the weather could be improved on for next year, Varley responded: “Next year if we do it again we can try and get more minority events such as badminton and volleyball, and hold more evening events.”
His Langwith counterpart Sam Morley stated: “The week is great as it brings in a lot of college spirit, is played in a fantastic spirit and gets lots of people involved in college events. It’s a fantastic end to the year for Derwent and Langwith.”