The dust has started to settle following the conclusion of BUCS Big Wednesday, the biggest event in the BUCS calendar. The sun was out as teams travelled from all over the UK to Nottingham, hoping to return with silverware. BUCS Big Wednesday was undoubtedly a success. Students certainly made the most of cheap tickets (and pints) to support their universities in their quest for glory.
BUCS Big Wednesday saw 16 different sports hold their finals in the same city, ranging from American Football and Squash, to Water Polo and Badminton. Teams had battled all season to earn the right to compete at BUCS Big Wednesday. The level of quality on the day was unrivalled, with teams giving their all to try to lift the trophy. However, in a final, there is always a winner, and a loser.
In this series, Freshered is going to provide a rundown of all the teams who tasted success in Nottingham at BUCS Big Wednesday. This article will focus on the following sports:
- American Football
- Basketball
- Badminton
- Fencing
- Football
With a lot of action to get through, it’s probably best to dive straight in.
American Football
National Championship
It was UWE Bullets who took home the crown, defeating Nottingham Golds 28-21. You can read a match report of the game here.
National Trophy
The domination from start to finish from SGS Pride saw them crowned champions, beating Newcastle Falcons 21-8 in the final.
Basketball
Women’s National Trophy
Free-scoring Nottingham Trent continued their trend of high points total in the final against Worcester. A solid defence performance capped off the perfect performace, winning a comfortable 84-44.
Men’s National Trophy
In a high-scoring affair, Nottingham Trent completed the double by edging past Hertfordshire. Lifting the National Trophy caps off the league and cup double, after the team won all 15 of their games.
Women’s National Championship
After both teams were involved in extremely close semi-finals, the final between Durham and Essex was always going to be tight. This was the case, as Essex claimed the tournament in a neck and neck 73-67 win.
Men’s National Championship
After winning by just one point in the semi-finals, Durham would have hoped for a more dominant victory in the final. However, it was not meant to be. Newcastle took the win 79-74, adding to their Premier North title.
Badminton
Women’s National Trophy
Oxford continued in the dominant manner they had played in for the whole tournament, defeating Warwick 7-1. Over the whole National Trophy, the champions had only lost an impressive seven rubbers.
Men’s National Trophy
It does not get any closer than this. Both Nottingham 2’s and Warwick 2’s won 4 rubbers, as well as eight games apiece. However, Nottingham won on home soil, after winning just 5 more points over the match, out of 565 total.
Women’s National Championship
A tight game show both teams give their all. However, there had to be a winner, with Loughborough eventually seeing off Derby‘s reslience to come out 5-3 winners.
Men’s National Championship
Nottingham made it a BUCS men’s badminton double, by dominating their final. Loughborough had no answer for the hosts, as they raced to a 7-1 victory. This completes the league and cup double, without losing a game.
Fencing
Men’s National Trophy
Although closer than their matches en route to the final, Durham 2’s were able to find a way past Cambridge. The match finished 128-102, completing the double, as well as a 100% win record for the season.
Women’s National Trophy
It was a great exhibition of the sport in the match between Bath and Glasgow. A tight affair saw the Scottish team race in a 24 point lead, before Bath recovered strongly to earn a 111-105 win. The trophy is heading west.
Men’s National Championship
Durham ensured both pieces of men’s BUCS fencing silverware were heading north with them. Nottingham pushed them all the way, with a close match ending 130-127 in Durham‘s favour.
Women’s National Championship
It was just not meant to be in the fencing for Nottingham. Their loss in the men’s national championship was replicated by the women, who lost 135-94 to a dominant Edinburgh side. A perfect season for the Scottish side.
Football
Women’s National Trophy
Only one thing adds to a final’s atomsphere; a derby. This was the case in this final, as Nottingham faced Nottingham Trent. The game ended 3-1 to Trent, meaning they claim both the cup, and bragging rights.
Women’s National Championship
Goals were to be expected in this final, and it certainly did not disappoint. Loughborough exploited Northumbria‘s defensive frailties in their dominance, coming away 10-0 winners. They definitely justified their title of champions.
Men’s National Trophy
After two very close semi-finals, more of the same was to be expected in the final. A five goal thriller saw Hartpury 2’s win the cup, after edging out Leeds Beckett 3-2, in a game which could have gone either way.
Men’s National Championship
Loughborough made it a national championship double for their sides as they earned victory in their final. Their attack, as for the teams before them, proved too much for Nottingham Trent, with the game ending 4-2.