Netballers clinch glory – but footballers can’t get over line
There was a lot at stake for various University of Chichester teams in dramatic matches to secure titles, promotions and league spots.
The netball first team claimed a convincing 54-25 win over Brunel twos to clinch the South Eastern 2A division in superb fashion.
The Chichester fifth team were also confirmed champions after a flawless league record this season, whilst the fours suffered a 4210 defeat to Brighton.
Chichester’s men’s football fives had the chance to win their league but lost 4-2 to Sussex threes, leaving the door open for a potential comeback in the final showdown between the sides.
The women’s futsal team were eliminated by holders Northumbria at the quarterfinal stage of this season’s championship but men’s futsal twos beat Brunel 16-1 in a promotion decider.
In rugby, the women faced a difficult task against a strong Surrey side and crashed to a 17-5 loss in a hard-fought game in their last league outing of the season.
Men’s rugby ones tasted defeat in their final game, a narrow 27-20 to Reading twos which will see them finish third in South Eastern 2A, seen as a solid achievement in a difficult league.
Elsewhere, Chichester’s men’s table tennis team edged a narrow 9-8 victory against Sussex and men’s tennis drew 6-6 with Surrey in their bid for a runners-up spot, while men’s badminton slumped to an 8-0 defeat to Brunel.
The university’s women’s basketball team’s season ended in defeat as they were beaten 81-40 by Sussex uni.
The men’s volleyball twos’ campaign came to a close with a straight sets defeat against Queen Mary.
Men’s hockey twos finished with a point in their 2-2 draw at home to Imperial College London (Medics) men’s fours for a respectable third place. And in their final league game the women’s lacrosse team thumped Brighton 26-2.
■ Chichester men’s tennis team stayed in contention for a runners-up spot after drawing at home to unbeaten league leaders Surrey.
Tom Pullen, playing at No.1, won his singles match 6-4, 6-1 and Braxton Bakerbates picked up a 6-1, 6-2 win at No.4 singles, whilst No.2 Chris Jones lost a three setter in a close champions tie-break decider. Mik Leys, playing at No.3, pushed his Surrey opponent all the way in a singles match that featured two tie-break sets.
There was more drama in the doubles encounters with little between the two teams. Chichester’s first pair lost in three sets but Chris Jones and Mik Leyes won 4-6, 6-3, 11-9 to earn a valuable point for the home side.
Baker-bates said: “At the start of the season our aim was to get into the top three. We’ve achieved that.
“At one stage we were top of the league, ahead of Surrey. They’ve got real strength in depth though. We had a tight match with them up there. All the games were close.”
Chichester lost that encounter 8-4 and were knocked out of the Conference Cup by Surrey in the quarter finals. “We competed but they just got the better of us and went on to win the final.”
The women’s tennis team went one round better than the men in the cup, losing to King’s in the semis. The men’s team need something from their last match against Sussex to clinch second spot. The women also face Sussex with third place up for grabs.