WITH three weeks of term already behind us and sides beginning to settle after the influx of freshers, the league tables in college rugby and football are finally worth taking a good look at. After all the early-season uncertainty, Oxford’s legions of college sportsmen will now be some way closer to knowing whether they’ll be enjoying a year of glorious triumphs or a grim winter of discontent, enduring a string of morale-sapping defeats.
Chief among those facing a painful year ahead are Somerville’s footballers, who languish at the bottom of the First Division without a point to their name, after three games. The Woodstock Road outfit have conceded thirteen league goals already, over half of which came in last week’s 7-0 drubbing at the hands of LMH. Unfortunately for Somerville, their next fixture sees them facing Magdalen, who are tied with LMH at the top of the table.
In the Premiership, it’s been business as usual for champions Worcester, winning their opening two fixtures and finding the net nine times in the process. New, who many predicted would mount an even more serious challenge to Worcester this year, have found things tougher, bringing home a solitary point from their first two games.
The season is almost over for Oxford’s egg-chasers, however, as there are just two fixtures left to secure promotion or avoid relegation. Christ Church look as though they’ll be ending the term in the First Division after securing victories in all three of their opening contests. They are yet to play Wadham, however, who also have a 100% record going into fourth week, although they’ve played one game fewer. Exeter, on the other hand, will be making sure that their Thursday afternoons are free as the win-less side contemplates life in Division Three.
How Exeter must envy Keble. The champions are in a league of their own at the moment, and proved it by smashing likely runners-up St. Catherine’s 51-3 this week. A third successive First Division crown is inevitable, and a fourth next term highly likely.
The story of college rugby this Michaelmas has been the demise of the once-great St. Peter’s. Having bounced back from relegation last year, their form has been even more dismal this term, suffering defeat at the hands of Magdalen, St. Hugh’s and Teddy Hall.
With Peter’s likely to go down, probably with Hugh’s joining them, the division should have an unfamiliar look to it in a couple of weeks. Both Wadham and Christ Church haven’t experienced top-flight rugby for a long time, and they look set to make a big impact when they arrive in sixth week for the first round of fixtures.
Cherwell reviews the term’s play so far
