The curtain has fallen on the 2021/22 league season, with BUCS Football once again delivering a consistently high quality product. Teams from universities all over Britain have faced off in all kinds of conditions, hoping to do their university proud. The teams at the top end of this, competing in the Premier Division, produced the kind of football that would not look out of place in the English football league pyramid. There were plenty of thrills and spills, with local rivalries bringing to the fore old scores to settle. With the last final whistle blown, league standings are confirmed, meaning battles at both ends of the table have reached their conclusion. To summarise the league season in the top flight, Freshered has reviewed the Premier Division, highlighting both the high-flyers, and under-performers.
Women’s Premier Division North
A near-perfect season for Loughborough saw them finish as champions, despite the best efforts of Northumbria. Nine wins from ten, including a decisive victory over their closest rivals, saw Loughborough finish three points clear at the top. Northumbria did well to keep up the pressure, and did inflict Loughborough‘s only defeat of the season, albeit in the first game. In the relegation battle, the two teams at the bottom could not be separated by points. Stirling and Edinburgh endured dismal campaigns, both managing only four points. Stirling‘s superior goal difference means the winner of Edinburgh vs St Andrew’s in the playoff will compete in the top tier next season.
Women’s Premier Division South
Two teams were head and shoulders above the rest, with only three points separating first and second place after ten games. Both these teams averaged over 4 goals a game, with Cardiff Met ending the season on 25 points, meaning they claimed the title ahead of Bath. Bath shouldn’t be too disheartened, inflicting Cardiff Met‘s only loss in emphatic fashion, defeating the future champions 5-1. It will be Hertfordshire who face the relegation playoff, after only one win all season. Their opponents for the last place in the league will be Nottingham.
Men’s Premier Division North
One team dominated the northern half of the men’s Premier Division this season. On their way to the title, Stirling picked up nine wins from ten, finishing ten points clear of second placed Nottingham Trent. At the bottom, it came down to the last game of the season to decide how would face the relegation play-off. Durham‘s victory meant they leapfrogged Northumbria, confirming their place in the top tier next season. For Northumbria, the final day heartbreak means they now face Nottingham for their place in the league.
Men’s Premier Division South
Hartpury ended the season as champions, with an impressive record of just one loss from ten games. Their 25 points saw them finish clear of the chasing pack, with second place Bath off the pace somewhat, six points behind. The dominance at the top was contrasted by the extremely close finish at the bottom end of the table. Starting the final day bottom, the University of South Wales picked up only their third win of the season to condemn local rivals Cardiff Met to the relegation playoff. The Welsh side will face off against East London for the final place in the top tier.
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