THE second week of British Universities and College Sports fixtures saw the University of York continue their strong start to the season.

And a target of finishing ranked in the top 40 BUCS institutions looks eminently manageable.

This week the highlight came from the women’s netball club achieving the rare feat of securing three victories at home.

The first team won an enthralling match against Sheffield Hallam seconds 40-37. A nervy start for the hosts, including three consecutive lost centre passes, put them behind early on before a strong showing from the centres allowed them to pull back.

Scores were traded throughout before, in the final quarter, York broke clear to secure a fantastic victory.

Special praise was reserved for clinical goal-shooter Grace Clarke.

The seconds had an easier time against Hull seconds, strolling to a 54-30 win.

Strong defence meant the visitors were unable to retain possession with Kat Grahame and Charlotte Pattinson Hudd particularly efficient.

Samantha Hall took player of the match for her potency in front of goal.

An inexperienced third team came up trumps against a Teesside seconds side who could not match York’s speed and precision.

Attacking interplay was abundant as Lo-Verroken Jones and Becky Coomber dominated the top third of the pitch.

In rugby, the men’s 1st XV continued their agonising start to the season, again falling to a three-point defeat at Edinburgh, made even more demoralising by the long journey.

Again there was a lack of cohesion as an attacking unit. While the setpieces were solid, the final ball too often went to ground.

A dominant display from the women’s football first XI graced a 5-3 conquest of Leeds.

The score did not do the performance justice as York time and time again just failed to put the ball in the net and conceded a couple of sloppy goals at the end of the match.

Anty Cole was the star performer after a four-goal blast.

The men’s hockey first XI were fortunate to secure a 1-1 draw against Northumbria 1st XI in a heated match that saw several players sent to the sin-bin.

A sterling display from goalkeeper Callum Chaundy kept York in the match, while defender Alex Bond proved hard to get past.

A goal in the first half against the run of play gave York the lead, but they were on the back foot for most of the match.

However, it took until the final quarter of the game for the Northumbria forwards to finally beat Chaundy.

Captain Phil Blackburn stated: “I’m disappointed to concede a late goal, but there were a number of pleasing aspects to the performance.”

A notable show was produced by the men’s thirds, who easily defeated their Hull opponents 5-1, a stunning reverse from the 6-0 defeat of the previous year.

Fluid attacking movements were coupled with a solid display at the back, with captain Andrew Lister excelling in midfield.