Get hype, everyone: now at the earlier time of “not after some of the games we’re previewing have already started”, it’s the new BUCS (British Universities and College Sport) roundup!

Results

Football first. The Blues game this wasn’t exactly a classic on the whole by any stretch of the imagination, but the big moments made up for it, including an incredible chip from 35 yards out from a Coventry striker and a dramatic last-second header to secure our lads a well-deserved point.

Meanwhile, up in Leicester, the Centaurs recorded a thumping 4-0 win to advance to the last 32 of the regional cup; they’ll face high-flying Bedfordshire 1sts in the next round.

For the ladies, the main team had the week off, but the Furies finally broke their 13-game, 20-month losing streak with an emphatic 6-3 win over Derby 2nds.

I don’t feel like I can add anything to this beyond “lol”.

Several teams kicked off their cup campaigns this week; the netball 2nds went out at the first hurdle, going down 38-25 to Brookes’ first team.

The hockey mens’ 3rds stuffed Brookes 4ths 4-0 on their ground to progress (and hence extending their uni-best winning streak).

The Furies weren’t the only comeback queens last week; after failing to score a try in their first three weeks, the womens’  rugby union side came up with twelve en-route to a statement win over Cardiff, 68-0.

The American football team weren’t so fortunate; outnumbered three-to-one by a travelling Brighton side, an ugly 48-0 loss puts them in the South Coastal conference cellar and leaves them still chasing their first BUCS win.

The guy in the lighter blue helmet is 6’8″. Ain’t nobody getting past that guy.

For the top-flight teams, it was a mixed week; mens’ basketball got a valuable win over UCL, 61-55, but their womens’ equivalents went down 58-48 to KCL.

The hockey womens’ 1sts suffered their first loss of the season to Exeter, while the mens’ 1sts drew with a Bristol side they had previously battered twice in pre-season.

The lacrosse womens’ 1sts also went down, but there were wins for the men there as well as in badminton and tennis.

The netball club claim this is “tactical training”. Looks like crap beer pong or something to us.

In a late fixture, the womens’ 2nds in fencing had a double-header on Saturday, overcoming Leicester and Nottingham 123-110 and 113-98 respectively.

Preview

A lot of away fixtures this week – for top-flight 1sts, both basketball and both hockey teams are out of town.

The womens’ lacrosse 1sts feature in what is undoubtedly the marquee fixture of the week – they’re off to Cambridge for a league clash with the currently-unbeaten Tabs, and will be looking to upset their precocious and cocky foes, we assume.

Offscreen: the coach, shouting at them to sweep the leg.

The hockey mens’ 3rds face their trickiest opponent for a while as they look to make it 9 wins on the trot – Harper Adams have won their first two league games 15-0 and 7-2, and sit second in the division behind the 3rds.

The lacrosse womens’ 2nds meanwhile are up against Warwick. At the other end, the American football side had their closest league game last year against Reading, and will be looking to put themselves on the map with a win this time around.

No stash trackies? For shame, Reading Knights. For shame.

Elsewhere, it’s a bonding trip for the tennis 2nds, as both men and women head up for clashes with Nottingham 2nds.

In football, the Centaurs host Derby 4ths at Iffley, with away trips for the Blues, Womens’ Blues and Furies to Worcester, Wolverhampton and Loughborough respectively.