MIXED fortunes befell the range of University of York sports teams.

The hockey club faced a mighty challenge in the first round of the BUCS Northern Conference Cup.

The men’s hockey seconds achieved the most notable result of the day, beating the University of Sheffield 2-1 – two leagues above them in BUCS – to advance to the next round and extend a fantastic run so far this season.

But other teams from the club had less luck.

The ladies firsts’ lost 1-0 away to a strong Sheffield University first team.

The second team too lost at home, to Northumbria University 2nds, in a surprisingly close battle, considering they are two leagues above them.

York’s consolation in a 2-1 defeat was a last-minute penalty scored by Natalie Montezuma.

Also playing in the BUCS Northern Conference Cup were the netball firsts.

Having earlier beaten Northumbria University 2nds, they faced tough opposition at home to Sheffield Hallam University 2nds.

But York’s knockout run was brought to an abrupt end as the visitors won 45-33.

The 2nds fared better against Northumbria University 5ths, who were trounced 55-37 in a first round tie to set up a duel against Newcastle University 3rds.

Having had last week’s match cancelled, the rugby first XV were hoping for a positive result from their trip to Leeds Metropolitan University.

But frustration ruled as the York ranks were beaten 22-5 to endure their first away loss of the season.

Next up is a visit of Manchester University firsts with York seeking to make home advantage count.

Back to an upbeat note, the men’s football team fought hard to earn a deserved 2-2 draw with Hull University.

A brace of strikes from Conor Brennan hauled York back to parity after they had conceded two early goals to a side who triumphed 4-0 over York just a week earlier.

A University of York side to have gone from strength to strength over the past years is the fencing club’s women’s team, who this season are competing in the BUCS Premier League.

Yet things are tougher at the top, and the ladies continued their difficult start to elite division life with a 134-120 loss at the University of Birmingham.

The men’s team fared better though, recording a second consecutive win with a resounding 135-98 triumph over Roses rivals Lancaster University – always an added bonus.

In squash, the men’s side came back from their defeat last week to beat the University of Leeds’ 2nds 3-0 in the BUCS Northern Conference Cup.

They proceed to the third round, and hope to beat their efforts of the past two years, which saw them defeated in the semi-finals.