THE University of York’s sports teams built up to this Sunday’s Varsity clash with Hull with a mixed bag of results.

Most outdoor fixtures were cancelled due to the sudden blizzard, but the men’s football firsts’ encounter with Huddersfield survived the weather – unfortunately.

Given the shock 8-2 reverse against a side sitting bottom of the table, the Black and Golds were left wishing they hadn’t pushed for the game to be played.

It was 1-1 at half-time, but Huddersfield then used the gale-force winds to their advantage, denting York’s promotion hopes.

York got goals through James Davies and Tom Clarke but they had needed to win the first half by a considerable margin to counter Huddersfield’s bizarre second-half tally, which was accrued when the home players could barely see the ball or each other.

There was better news indoors, as a last-gasp penalty ensured a dramatic 48-48 draw with Northumbria for the netball firsts.

Standout performances from Emma Griffiths and Georgia Neblett ensured York were continually within reach of their opponents.

Captain Nina Pullman said: “That was incredibly tense and in the last ten seconds we had a penalty and I can’t explain how happy I am about that. We’re so well matched.

“We had a weakened team. We had one injury and our starting goal attack was ill, I’m still injured. We’re three down from our starting seven so I’m incredibly happy.”

A clinical performance saw the women’s squash team beat Northumbria and secure a solid finish to their season.

Dominant displays from the impressive Ashling Foo were key in the 3-1 win that gives York hope of mounting a promotion challenge next year. The men’s first team also had a successful afternoon, beating Sheffield 4-1.

The women’s volleyball team were comprehensively beaten in straight sets by Newcastle.

Katie Widerhofer’s team struggled to demonstrate the form they had shown earlier in the campaign and failed to match their opponents for power and placement.

Both of York’s badminton teams recorded important victories over Durham opposition. The men’s firsts won 5-3 in the North East, while the women were 6-2 victors on home ground.

The headline away fixture of the day, though, was on Humberside, where the men’s lacrosse team’s spectacular run came to a shuddering halt at the hands of Hull.

Ahead of Sunday’s White Rose Varsity, Hull dished out a 10-1 defeat for William Chun’s side, which leaves the two teams level on points at the top of their league.