THE University of York’s sport were involved in a dramatic series of fixtures in the final round of the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) season.

Arguably the best result came from the women’s hockey firsts who, in beating Northumbria seconds 2-0, finished top of their Northern 3B League with 24 points ahead of Newcastle seconds and Leeds thirds.

It was York’s eighth win in ten matches, and their remarkable goal difference of plus-26 is indicative of their high standards this season and how much they deserve the title.

This contrasted, however, with the York men’s football firsts’ 3-2 defeat at the hands of rivals Hull firsts on 22 Acres.

In a crucial relegation scrap, York only needed a point to secure their safety. Their character was epitomised by fighting back to equalise twice, thanks to James Davies and a Matt Mawdesley penalty.

But Hull scored a sensational volley in the 85th minute to which a devastated York had no reply.

Meanwhile, the women’s firsts football side won 2-0 against Leeds seconds, including an outstanding free-kick from captain Rose Hooks, but it wasn’t enough to prevent relegation.

The men’s squash firsts crushed Leeds Met seconds 5-0 to finish second, just behind Northumbria firsts, and round off an excellent season.

Any fears of relegation for the men’s hockey firsts were banished as they trounced Durham thirds 6-0. A Laurie Torrington hat-trick sent York on the way to overtaking Leeds in the table by goal difference.

York netball thirds also avoided a relegation calamity with a tight 46-41 victory over Sheffield Hallam thirds. Rachael Bunce starred in a tense affair, helping her team overtake now-bottom Bradford firsts in the table.

The netball firsts achieved a respectable mid-table finish despite losing 45-40 away to Sheffield seconds.

The men’s rugby thirds also finished in a similar position, but couldn’t stop a very strong Hull seconds side beating them 33-5.

Finally, the women’s badminton firsts finished second in their league, after a walkover victory against bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield firsts, who failed to field a team.