HOME pride was dented as the University of York’s rugby firsts’ unbeaten record on their own ground – dating back to 2007– was reduced to tatters by Birmingham.

However, York can be proud of their dogged performance in the 8-3 British Universities and College Sport (BUCS) Trophy defeat against a team currently third in the division above.

The team had been denied promotion into Birmingham’s division ten days earlier following an administrative error and, incensed by this injustice, were determined to prove they could compete at a higher standard.

In a tight affair, they matched their visitors for 75 minutes, trading penalties in the first-half before a heartbreaking try, five minutes from time, sent the Midlands university into the next round.

“We played fantastically,” said captain Alex Redshaw.

“The guys gave everything, I couldn’t ask for more.”

Mike Callis, York’s second row, was carried off with a head injury early in the match, while fly-half Rob Grant and openside flanker Rory McGregor also picked up knocks as the team confronted Birmingham’s physicality.

For many of the final year players, it was their last BUCS appearance, although the team still have the annual Roses clash with Lancaster to look forward to early in the summer term.

Meanwhile, there were two crucial wins for the hockey club as relegation worries were erased.

The men’s firsts edged out Durham 1-0 courtesy of Alec Feakes’s first-half penalty flick and have now secured their survival in League 2B with one fixture left.

York dominated the match and spurned a number of excellent chances before the game’s defining moment, the penalty awarded after the away goalkeeper had blatantly slide-tackled Andy Harris.

The seconds escaped their relegation dogfight after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Sheffield Hallam.

Adam Tyrrell’s dramatic winning goal, 90 seconds from time, settled the contest after Adam Phillips’ opener was cancelled out by the visiting side.

York travel to Bradford for their final fixture next week with their League 5B status assured.

The netball club also revelled in a fine win double.

The firsts moved back off the bottom of their division with a thrilling 32-31 win at Sunderland, while the seconds beat neighbours York St John 47-21 to keep alive their mathematical chances of gaining promotion into League 4B.

It was their second win over the city rivals in four days, following the club’s clean sweep of four triumphs in the inter-city Varsity encounter.

The football firsts completed their league programme with a characteristically nail-biting 4-3 win at Teesside.

They still retain a mathematical chance of going up from League 2B. However, they need fellow pace-setters Sheffield University to slip up twice in their final couple of matches.

Title hopes for the second XI also look over after a 3-1 home reverse to Huddersfield, their closest challengers.

Jack Beadle grabbed the York goal, but they were outplayed by the likely champions-elect.

No foiling the fencers

In one of the best success stories of the year, the women’s fencing side have progressed to a promotion play-off final with Newcastle after comfortably ousting Sports University Loughborough 133-94.

Back in York, the men’s first team beat Newcastle for the second time in a week to move into second place in their league. Another win at Leeds University next week will take them top.