RAIN scuppered a fascinating day of British Universities and College Sport (BUCS) action, with all games due to be played on grass called off.

The weather has proved a menace to the sportsmen and women of York, not to mention the ground staff, this year and struck again on Wednesday as seven matches fell foul of conditions.

All four men’s football teams were due to play at home, but only the fourths were able to fulfil their fixture, losing 5-2 to Leeds City College firsts.

Tom Weir’s rugby side, meanwhile, now face something of a fixture pile-up. They are fifth out of eight teams in the BUCS Northern Conference 1A, but have three games in hand on two of the sides ahead of them.

With half the season left to play and with two games against all-conquering University of Manchester firsts, it could still be a hugely successful season.

The story of the week came in the men’s fencing where a 120-114 victory over the University of Aberdeen secured passage to the BUCS Cup semi-finals, where they will face the University of Birmingham.

Tom Skingle’s fencers have had another accomplished season and also sit second in the BUCS Northern Conference 1A.

Another game that survived the downpour was the men’s golf fixture against the University of Hull.

The team secured their first win of the season by a 3.5-2.5 margin and the result was significant for York Sport as it counted towards the overall scoreline of this weekend’s White Rose Varsity, meaning York are already 4-0 up.

Within the confines of the sports centre, the women’s badminton firsts, one of the most successful York sides this season, hammered Durham University thirds 8-0 to secure second position in the table.

Mathematically they could still achieve promotion, but it is unlikely because of the fine form of Northumbria.

There was also a win for the men’s hockey firsts. It has been a frustrating spell of late for Andy Harris’ team but, after losing three games in a row, they earned a hard fought 2-0 win over the University of Sheffield seconds.

- HENRY COWEN