NEWLY-PROMOTED University of York men’s rugby union firsts opened up with two narrow defeats as the British Universities and Colleges Sport season kicks into gear.

Having started life in Premier Division ‘B’ with a 28-21 defeat in their opening match against a much-fancied Durham side, they were edged out 18-15 at home by Manchester on Wednesday.

York were unlucky to lose a game played in dreadful conditions, with swirling winds and torrential rain.

The conditions were not conducive to the attacking game that York set out to play and handling was a difficult proposition.

In a game strewn with errors, set-pieces were vital and all four tries came in the aftermath of scrums.

Close-range tries from front-rowers Tristan Burd and Matt Thorpe got York on the board, while kicker Chadwick had a rare off day, struggling with the conditions to land only two of his six attempts at goal.

The men’s football firsts enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, brushing aside Sunderland 5-0.

Playing on a 3G pitch, a surface Sunderland were unfamiliar with, York kept possession superbly and played a pressing defence to blunt any visiting attacks.

All the goals came in the first half and York took their foot off the pedal for the second period with the result already secure.

Finishing with a cleansheet came as a delight to a side who had concerns over their defence. The goals came from Osborne, Belshaw, Easter and Davis (2).

A new-look men’s badminton team ran out comfortable 7-1 winners against Leeds.

Stand-out performances came from first year pairing Oli Hoult and James Southwell in the doubles, breezing past their far more experienced opposition.

The consistently strong women’s lacrosse side, inspired by a fantastic display from Katie Barrett, dominated Newcastle in a 25-0 win.

Despite many students playing their first competitive match, the team gelled as a unit to produce some fluid attacking lacrosse.

A determined performance saw the women’s volleyball side overcome Northumbria.

A nervy start saw the York side controversially yellow-carded for taking too long to make their first serve after failing to hear the starting whistle.

Despite a few mistakes in the first set, the York team recovered to take the opener.

A disappointing second set resulted in a 25-14 defeat.

However, York soon rediscovered their touch and won the final two sets for a 3-1 victory.