For the second week in a row, the BUCS (British University and Colleges Sports) fixtures were held in winter’s grip, writes Michael Thurloway.

All outdoor home matches were cancelled, and many away ties too.

The netball firsts were dealt a blow in their push for promotion after a 44-34 defeat by Leeds Met, who overtook York in the Northern 4B table as a result of their victory.

Away from home, Leeds fourths inflicted an agonising 33-29 defeat on York seconds which saw Leeds leapfrog York into second place.

Meanwhile, the thirds completed a day of disappointing results for York netball after a 25-21 defeat at Bradford firsts.

The women’s seconds badminton team were also consigned to defeat in their crucial promotion clash with York St John firsts.

St John conceded two of the doubles matches, but were able to field a strong team for the rest, in a 5-3 win by the cross-city rivals.

Also in the main hall, an all-York clash saw the men’s seconds complete a 6-2 victory over the thirds.

The women’s firsts remain in promotion contention after a 6-2 win over Northumbria seconds to sit level with Newcastle at the top of the table.

Afterwards in the main hall, York men’s seconds volleyball suffered an emphatic 3-0 defeat to unbeaten Northumbria seconds. York remain third in Northern 3B, but missed the chance to go level on points with their opponents.

The men’s firsts tennis team provided Sheffield Hallam seconds with their first win of the season after an 8-4 reverse.

Hallam remain one spot below fifth-placed York in the Northern 2B table.

The men’s seconds fencing had a successful afternoon, coming back from a trip to Newcastle thirds with a comfortable 130-115 victory to remain mid-table in Northern 2B.

It was a successful day for the squash club, with both firsts’ teams victorious on away trips.

The women defeated Leeds Met thirds 3-1 to rise to fourth in Northern 2B, while the men downed Newcastle seconds 4-1 to reinforce pole position.

The women’s firsts basketball side lost 48-36 to Northumbria seconds, but still hang on to second spot in Northern 2B, though considerably behind runaway leaders Leeds Met seconds.

All in all it was a mixed week for York, with a crucial wins interspersed with disappointing defeats, but the chase to establish a place in the BUCS top 40 remains well on for York.