THE campus sport season began in earnest as teams from the University of York opened their campaigns in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) leagues, writes Dan Holland.

In the day’s showpiece match, the York football team hosted Durham University’s second string, with the White Rose looking to bounce back from relegation last year.

However, they could only manage a draw in their opener despite taking an early lead through star defender Tom Brandreth, who tapped home from an Ash Daly corner.

They were pegged back in controversial circumstances, Durham’s second-half equaliser coming when their striker appeared to foul Brandreth before rounding ’keeper Dom McMahon to level.

York captain Matt Mawdesley was left to rue his side’s missed chances, Daly and Tom Day both striking the woodwork, and he reflected at full-time that “there’s still work to do” if the Black and Gold are to mount a serious promotion challenge.

Though it was the first day of the new campaign, there was a potentially season-defining moment for the badminton club.

With all five teams in action at home, the men’s firsts faced a crucial match against Hull, the team likely to be their main rivals for promotion.

An immediate return to the BUCS Northern Conference 1A is the aim, and they secured a solid start with a 4-4 draw.

Trailing 4-2 going into the final round of doubles fixtures, York were indebted to the pairings of Dan Hirst and James Davies, and Tom Dainty and Andy Henderson, who both managed to pull off victories to take a share of the spoils.

There was better news from the women’s first team, who beat Northumbria 5-3, again thanks to some spectacular doubles play.

The women’s basketball team held their nerve to prevail in a tight encounter with Northumbria. After almost blowing a ten-point lead in the final quarter, York eventually held out to win 38-31.

The men’s team, however, were not as fortunate. Indiscipline and some careless attacking play meant they fell to a 42-41 defeat to Sunderland University.

Elsewhere, the women’s football team and men’s lacrosse side bagged arguably the best results of the day, winning 5-1 and 31-1 respectively.

The men’s fencing team, one of the university’s strongest outfits, were narrowly beaten 122-119 by Liverpool, while away from home the men’s rugby union team were on the wrong end of a 31-14 scoreline against Bishop Burton.

The women’s hockey firsts were beaten 7-1 in Durham.