With a whole host of Cup finals, promotion playoffs and relegation face-offs to cover, this will be one of the most highly contested BUCS Wednesdays of the season.
The first of our Cup finals sees the women’s tennis 2s cap a huge achievement by reaching the final of the Northern Conference Cup.
A competition normally dominated by teams from higher leagues, the North 3B side have fought their way to the final of this years competition, and winning it would be a fairy tale.
Still within touching distance of domestic promotion, Leeds saw off Durham 4s in the semis, but will have to step up even further to beat Northern 2B champions Durham 3s in the final.
Leeds’ remaining home finals are indoors, with the Fencing perhaps providing our biggest chance of a win.
Facing Northern 2B champions Durham 2s, Leeds will have a point to prove against the side that pipped them to the post domestically this year. The men have certainly proven their worth though, each beating Northern 2A opposition in the semis.
In the hockey, the 2s line up against Northumbria in the cup, who currently sit in front of Leeds in the Northern 2B table.
This tie ought to be fought closely, as Leeds’ position does not reflect their form – if they use their remaining two games in hand effectively, they could finish runner-up in their division.
However, all of their attention will be on the matter at hand, as they look to see of Northumbria at Headingley campus.
Domestically, several Leeds sides are, for better or for worse, stuck in playoff battles this week, with relegation and promotion at stake.
In a playoff format slightly different to many other on show, the women’s lacrosse team will face Warwick tomorrow, hoping for a chance to battle it out in the playoff final for promotion to the Premier North, against Newcastle or Edinburgh.
Elsewhere, both the women’s football and men’s hockey 1s are locked in a group-format playoff. Their games are to hold their places in their current divisions and avoid relegation, facing Northumbria and Manchester respectively.
Jamie Kirby
Image courtesy of Leeds University, Leeor Ohayon and Sam Broadley