Derby Day 2019

May 7 2019

UEA 24.5 - 5.5 ESSEX

2

Derby Day 2019... seventh heaven for UEA @ueawrufc

Well, what a day that was! We were blessed with bright sunshine and some stunning sporting performances for Derby Day 2019. The sunburn and hangovers will be more than worth it for those of us who were lucky to witness and be part of another amazing UEA day.

On days like that, it really seems as if campus has been given a lift, I think.

With the cancellation of Pimp My Barrow, Derby Day was the one event this year which really had the potential to bring together UEA. And it delivered.

There’s no doubt that in a lot of areas this year has hardly been a wonderful one for UEA, but sport has bucked the trend.

And the power of sport to excite and inspire campus can’t be underestimated when you look back at the pictures of the packed Square and pitch sidelines rows deep with spectators.

And for the seventh year in a row, UEA emerged victorious. There were individual highs and lows - personal success stories and individual club triumphs which a twelve page pull-out cannot hope to scratch the surface of.

My club, Lacrosse, recorded a double-victory for the first time in our history as the men finally overcame Essex. For years they’ve been hoping it would be their year to match the women and in 2019 it finally was. The team was fitter, better prepared and hungrier than ever and they came out with a dramatic late win. Read all about it, and the celebrations that followed (below), in the centre spread.

There was no shortage of drama elsewhere either. Rugby was a close affair which ended in a great win for UEA to cap a superb season for the

club. Some of our leading lights in local leagues this season like Squash, Korfball and Netball picked up wins in the Sportspark, Netball’s 31-30 win was particularly tense, Squash’s 5-0 and 4-1 scorelines particularly comfortable.

Swimming also triumphed 11-0 and climbing claimed wins across the board. Cheer Dance made up for a disappointing last competition with the Derby Day win the club wanted.

Men’s Hockey made much lighter work of Essex than they did last year with a comfortable win, while you can read Madeleine Bracey’s account of a tense Cricket match which UEA won with a six on the last ball. Essex forfeited women’s Hockey, but with a few UEA players bolstering their ranks, the teams still played a friendly match which was one of the day’s best spirited events.

We saw pitch invasions, passion and the fruition of a lot of hard work, capping off the most successful year in UEA sporting history.

And it’s been a privilege to have been a part of it. Thanks to all our contributors this year, the clubs we’ve featured, Oli Gray, everyone in the UEA Sport office for all their help and the individuals who have helped make Concrete Sport what it is. And if your club hasn’t had too many mentions this year, make sure you get in touch with my successor who I’m sure will be happy to get you involved next season!

All the best, Tony Allen, Concrete Sport Editor.

Background photo by Chris Matthews Inside-back graphic by Livewire All photos by Tony Allen unless stated

@ueatennis

@aye_aye_ultimate

@uea_water_polo

@ueapf

3

Men’s Football suffer Derby Day loss

Always one of the most popular fixtures of any Derby Day, there was huge excitement around the Men’s Football this year.

The early 10:30am start didn’t dissuade the crowds, but unfortunately the game was not in UEA’s favour.

The game started slowly with neither team managing to get through the opposition, bar a couple of free kicks being sent harmlessly way off target.

The first big moment came when one of the Essex players received a nasty knock to the face when contesting the ball.

He was on the pitch for a while, and was promptly substituted off whilst being led off the pitch by the medical staff - an unfortunate and premature end to his morning.

The rest of the first half produced a few good opportunities for both teams.

UEA picked up a free-kick just outside the box, with the towering Richard Black heading the ball just wide. Essex picked

up an identically positioned freekick just minutes later due to UEA’s keeper Tom Smith handling the ball outside the box, but came to nothing.

The final 10 minutes were incredibly cagey, with not much coming out of constant midfield battles.

The frustration of both teams resulted in tackles flying in, with UEA’s Ryan Swift receiving a yellow before the whistle went.

After the break the game sprung into life, with an early chance from UEA coming from a corner, but it was Essex who struck in the only goal in the first 10 minutes.

A corner whipped in excellently by one of their standout players Rigers connected to the head of massive centre-back Max Matchett from only a couple of yards out, with jubilation from the travelling Essex fans.

The momentum from the away side kept going with chance after chance.

E s s e x exposed weakness in the UEA team consistently but could not convert.

It took until around the 80th minute for UEA to find sight of goal, with a couple of shots whistling wide.

A corner produced the closest chance, with the ball looking to have slotted in from a header sending the UEA contingent wild, but it was just over the bar.

As the full-time whistle went, Essex celebrated strongly and overall perhaps deservedly. They were resistant to the UEA pressure, particularly at the end of the second half, but perhaps the scoreline was unfair on the good attempts from the home side.

Alex Dalton

4

UEA Lacrosse 2018-19: D

Cometh the hour, cometh the Jhan UEA men’s Lacrosse made history by claiming their first ever Derby Day win in dramatic fashion.

Tied 10-10 at the final whistle, two overtime goals saw the Eagles emerge victorious and sparked wild scenes of celebration at Colney Lane.

Hat-tricks from Travis Payne and Jhan Tibudan, braces from Kurts Auza and Mitchell Hoverd plus goals from Matt Dewhurst and Sam Campbell took UEA to the historic win.

Hoverd put the hosts 1-0 up early on, however this only served as a wake-up call for the visitors. A devastating spell from Essex’s clinical attack saw them score three in quick succession, two from long range.

However, two goals from UEA’s top scorer Payne, the second a superbly placed effort from a tight angle, saw the two teams go into the first quarter break tied at three apiece.

Essex rattled the cage at the start of the second period, but the ball didn’t quite sneak in. UEA continued to apply pressure, with Payne running through and putting a shot just wide, Campbell forcing a great save from the Essex keeper and Payne setting up Auza after a neat roll-dodge, but the Essex goalkeeper once again kept UEA at bay.

Soon UEA were ahead through Campbell who kept his cool from point blank range, with Tibudan extending UEA’s lead soon after.

Essex clawed back another before half-time, but the momentum was very much with UEA, going into the break 5-4 up after further chances for Harry Harris, Connor Watson and Campbell again.

UEA’s defence did well to repel a spell of pressure from a rejuvenated Essex at the start of the third quarter, but they couldn’t keep out the equaliser.

Dewhurst then restored UEA’s lead with a shot from distance, before Essex equalised for 6-6 shortly after.

An incredible save from UEA goalkeeper Charlie Albuery with his body kept the scores level.

As the game became tighter and the lead changed hands, long-serving Albuery was a rock for UEA, making a number of important saves at crucial points in the game to protect the scoreline or prevent Essex from pulling away. An Essex break looked dangerous, but a smart check from Jamal Winn in UEA’s defence broke it up and snuffed out the danger.

With that particular storm weathered, Latvian youth international Kurts Auza then scored a brace as UEA reached 8-6 up. After an incredibly steadfast period of UEA defending, Essex’s star player found a way through for 8-7, but that was how the third quarter ended after Albuery made a big save with his feet to prevent an equaliser in the tense closing exchanges.

However, Essex’s equaliser did come at the start of the fourth quarter, before they agonisingly took the lead. After a UEA timeout, Payne was on target to level the scores at 9-9, with a desperate Essex defence unable to hold out.

UEA were temporarily a man down after Hoverd tracked back and came in with a huge check, which got the already vociferous crowd even noisier.

When he made it back on, Hoverd himself drew a foul with some nice passing coming to nothing from the resulting possession.

A good interception from UEA’s talisman and LSM Harris raised the volume levels once again, before Tibudan was there to put UEA 10-9 up. However, Essex then netted the equaliser and thought they’d won it with an eleventh, but thankfully for UEA their celebrations were cut short as the whistle had previously been blown for an infringement.

Both teams held on in the nervewracking final minutes.

No-one knew at first what the protocol was in the event of a draw, but it was decided that two seven-minute periods of overtime would be played to find a winner.

The end-to-end action continued.

UEA had two big reprieves in defence, before a great run from Jacob Beauchamp set up Tibudan who forced a crucial Essex save, with Auza calling the keeper into action again soon after.

However, UEA didn’t have to wait long for Hoverd to prove the hero and put UEA 11-10 up before the overtime break, with the longest seven minutes of the Eagles’ lives ahead of them.

A vital Albuery save kept UEA ahead, with both Auza and Payne having chances to seal the win. However, with seconds to go, a deflected shot from Tibudan sealed his hat-trick and with it the win for UEA. A pitch invasion and the ensuing celebrations were only fitting after an exciting, tense and historic match, the last in blue and gold for many of UEA’s graduating players.

Captain Payne told Concrete after the match: “I’ve never seen anything that was more of a team game than what we played. At 10-10 after 80 minutes, we had ice in our veins, the last goal that was put away by Jhan, he was cold-blooded with three goals and three assists.

“The game was back and forth for the full 80 minutes. But it doesn’t matter, the medals are round our necks, we did the job. These guys have worked so hard, they came back early [after Easter] and have been working hard day in, day out the whole year round to build up to this.

“We stayed up in the league, got BUCS Trophy silver medals and the Derby Day win. We couldn’t have done any more.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with any other bunch of lads. The guys this year have had an amazing work ethic. We’ve been shouting at each

5

Derby Day history makers

other, hugging each other, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster. I’m so happy to go out like this. I couldn’t have wished for anything more.”

Albuery added: “It was incredibly intense, especially when we went into overtime. We went from ahead to behind so many times. It was one of my favourite Lacrosse games I’ve ever played, it was so much fun, everyone left it all out there.

“We’ve been waiting for this for years, it’s unreal.”

The week was topped off for Payne and Albuery, who travelled to Manchester for the Nick Kehoe home international tournament at the weekend, representing England Universities and the Irish development team respectively.

UEA: Charlie Albuery, Curtis Parnell, Ollie Forster-Vets, Jamal Winn, Paddy Watt, Luke Griffith, Harry Harris, Seb Grant, Owen Wilson, Euan Dickson,

Ryan Clements, Jacob Beauchamp, Luke Harrison, Mitchell Hoverd, Matt Dewhurst, Connor Watson, Travis Payne (c), Jhan Tibudan, Kurts Auza, Sam Campbell, Will Vickers.

Tony Allen

UEA

ESSEX

12-10

UEA 24.5 -

5.5 ESSEX

8

Lacrosse women keep up winning streak UEA women’s Lacrosse kept up their successful Derby Day run with a 15-4 win. The goals were shared around UEA’s forwards with Fiona Smith netting four, hat-tricks for Phoebe Hartz and Olivia Stock, two apiece from Emily Winter and Carsen Lennon, with Tilly Pembroke also getting on the scoresheet.

In fact, it was a much more comfortable win than expected against an Essex side who finished well in their BUCS league and seemed to have improved from previous Derby Days.

Hartz calmed UEA nerves with an early goal, however after a spell of pressure Essex equalised. UEA were soon dominating, however. Cat Stallard hit the goalkeeper’s helmet before Hartz netted her second to restore the lead.

Smith then made it 3-1 before a superb long run and shot from Carsen Lennon made it four for UEA. Hartz then sealed her hat-trick after a superb run from the restrainer to make it 5-1 by the end of the first quarter.

UEA were having fun by the second period, with Winter scoring for 6-1 before Essex pulled another back. Hartz expertly dodged several players, setting up Pembroke who shot just wide, but it was not long until Winter netted another. Smith was denied twice in quick succession by Essex’s goalkeeper who can be proud of her performance keeping the score down. First a double roll dodge set up Smith for a shot before she was fed close-in after good work from Winter in midfield, but couldn’t get past the Essex stopper.

Stock kept the flow of goals coming for 8-3, before 2s stars Octavia Pither and Michelle Ward linked up well to assist Smith for 9-3.

Defender Kiki Abay was a key player for UEA, both starting attacks and in defence. She set up Stock who had a great attempt saved before being back in the thick of the defensive effort in the next passage of play, losing a boot for her efforts.

Smith then hit a rasping shot for her hat-trick and 10-3, before Stock was relieved to score a second for 11-3 in a

game when the livewire forward never seemed to stop finding good positions and deserved several more than she got.

Pither was owning the right flank, with the 2s’ top scorer creating chances and causing the Essex defence all sorts of problems of her own.

UEA went into the half-time break 11-3 up, with Stock making it twelve as she netted her hat-trick. A good run from Lennon set up Winter, but despite having the ball in the net an offside was called and Winter was denied a hat-trick which would have been more than deserved as the midfielder classily dictated proceedings in her final game for UEA. Another tricky run from Lennon saw her fashion a shot for herself, which she converted for 13-3. Jemima Rohde, who took over from skipper Georgie Sutton in goal for this quarter, made several excellent stops to keep Essex out.

Pembroke got in on the scoring before the end of the quarter. Lottie Payne produced a lovely run which left an Essex defender on the floor, providing a perfectly weighted assist to set up vice-captain Pembroke. Payne had a superb game for UEA in possession and deserves far more credit for her efforts than the scoresheet suggests.

Essex scored a consolation before the break to leave the score at 14-4.

In the final quarter the goalscoring dried up a little, but UEA maintained their dominance.

Smith rattled the post with a shot on the run, before drawing a foul from which UEA had another chance. Lennon forced a great save from the Essex goalkeeper’s feet before Smith netted the final goal of the game.

Smith forced another great save and Hartz put a shot just wide, before last year’s captain was forced off with a nose injury after being hit in the face – Hartz was nonetheless ok, despite sustaining a nasty cut.

Lennon shot just wide and almost found Smith with a perceptive throughball, before UEA’s defence did well to stop an Essex counter-attack in the final seconds.

However, there were to be no more goals as the match ended 15-4 to UEA, as women’s Lacrosse won their tenth consecutive Derby Day. Captain Sutton said she felt “relieved” afterwards.

She continued: “It’s a really nice way to end both my captaincy and my time at the club. It was most of the squad’s last game for UEA. I’m really happy with my team’s performance.”

UEA: Georgie Sutton (c), Jemima Rohde, Ellie Lynch, Kiki Abay, Alex Sturdy, Rosie Lawrence, Emma Crawford, Carsen Lennon, Emily Winter, Cat Stallard, Michelle Ward, Adela Milàde-Puri, Lottie Payne, Phoebe Hartz, Tilly Pembroke, Fiona Smith, Octavia Pither, Olivia Stock.

Tony Allen

9

Cricket win with last ball

For a sport known to be somewhat leisurely, Wednesday’s cricket was anything but.

“unlike Essex, UEA found strength in their lower order and a late push put UEA firmly back in the game” With UEA winning the toss and electing to bowl, the Essex opening batsmen came out determined to make their presence known from the offset.

A huge swing off the first ball followed by a four off the next got Essex off the mark. A confident start for the visitors meant that they very almost got to the 10 over point before the first wicket fell, but the openers’ budding partnership was brought to a close with a catch at the end of the 9th over. It was the fall of their openers that caused Essex to go off the boil, with shot after shot being

stopped by UEA’s excellent fielding. A great catch in the 16th over spelt the beginning of the end for Essex’s batting line-up as their remaining wickets fell in quick succession, drawing the first innings to a close.

A short tea break later and the players returned to the field for UEA’s innings. A strong start for the Essex bowlers as UEA’s batsmen seemed to struggle to find their feet, and their openers were dismissed without much difficulty.

The Essex field was particularly reliable, intercepting every ball on the boundary. A fantastic ball from Daniel Thacker in the 11th over got middle stump, bowling out one of UEA’s lead scorers Jack Dudleston and bringing Essex’s wicket total to three. However, unlike Essex, UEA found strength in their lower order and a late push put UEA firmly back in the game.

Some risks with their running brought multiple calls for a runout but the umpires waved off every appeal.

With the sun a bit lower in the sky now, the crowd were getting louder

and tensions were rising. Essex keeper Angus Prevost was especially energetic, interacting with the visiting crowd between balls, but UEA were not to be outdone, with their own fans booing the opposition’s bowlers for much of the final five overs.

Tensions finally boiled over as a close end seemed more and more likely and one Essex fan had to be pulled away from the off-field UEA players. UEA needed 20 to win off the last 12 balls – possible, but certainly a challenge.

Victory suddenly seemed further away for the hosts as the 6th and 7th wickets fell in the 18th over, but they held on.

Three needed off the last ball, and Peter Trewick finishes it the only way he knows how, with a spectacular six over the bowler’s head! Whoever said cricket wasn’t exciting?!

UEA win with 129 runs for 7 wickets over Essex’s 128 for 8.

UEA: J. Lawrence (c), H. Bailey, R. Ewart (wk), T. Satkunaseelan, J. Dudleston, B. Smith, M. Shields, A. Shanks, A. Lush, P. Trewick, M. Gibson, S. Powell.

Madeleine Bracey

10

Derby Day trophy presentation

Photos on this page by Roo Pitt.

Above: UEA Futsal won 5-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Sam Murphy plus goals from Alex Clarke and Matt Ladd.

Below: Members of UEA’s Sports Exec pose with the trophy

12

Redemption for men’s Rugby Union UEA went into this Derby Day fixture looking for redemption after last year’s tight loss at Essex, and wanted to finish this highly successful season on a high.

The game started with ferocious intensity as both sides clearly looked up for it. It was UEA who looked like they had made a quick start to match when they crossed over the line, however, this try was ruled out as there was a forward pass in the build-up. Despite this, the hosts’ hard work was rewarded few minutes later when their winger crossed over for the opening try. The conversion was missed and UEA led 5-0.

Essex then got their first score on the board with a penalty to make it 5-3. However, it was UEA who were getting the better of their opponents early on and this was shown in their second try, which was finished off after some wonderful build up from inside of their own half, and the conversion went wide so the lead was now 10-3.

The visitors replied almost immediately

Photo: Matt Musindi

with a well worked score of their own to drag themselves back into the game and make it 10-8. Ill-discipline was costing Essex and they had a man sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes after constant infringements on their line. This did not halt their momentum as they score a try to go into the lead for the first time in the match. The half time score was UEA 10-13 Essex.

“UEA did a fantastic job to hold onto the lead and seal victory after a truly historic season for the club”

The 2nd half got off with the same intensity as the 1st half, with both sides well matched, but it was UEA who

broke the deadlock in the 2nd half.

A lovely chip and chase saw the ball bounce perfectly for the hosts over the line, and the home side pounced on it for their third try of the match, which pushed them back ahead at 15-13. Essex responded straight away in this back and forth encounter with a try to take the lead again at 18-15.

It was UEA who had the final say, when they were awarded a penalty try after Essex were penalised for a high tackle right on their line with minutes to spare to make the score 22-18. UEA did a fantastic job to hold onto the lead and seal victory after a truly historic season for the club.

UEA starting XV: Tom Abraham, James Phimister, Dan Shepherd, Tom Sanderson, Ben Schulte, Cam Baker, James Brading, Chowa Chanda (c), Ben Rendell, Will Perry, Adam Smith, Jack Guest, Oliver Mills, Finn Martin, Louis Frost.

Matt Musindi

13

Women’s Hockey: Beauchamp happy after Derby Day friendly UEA Women’s Hockey President Katie Beauchamp says her side had “a lot of fun,” despite their Derby Day match being decided before the first whistle.

Essex did not have enough players for a team, so the match was conceded, but the sides agreed to play anyway with UEA supplementing the Essex team with six players.

Beauchamp explained: “I spoke to the Essex President the night before, and she was really grateful that we supplied a couple of players for her.

It was a really good match, a friendly match. It was a lot of fun and I’m glad we got to play.”

Captain Àine Gransden added: “It’s Derby Day so we wanted a competitive game but at the same time we’re really grateful that Essex put a team out so we could enjoy it. In the end it was a really fun game, everyone enjoyed it, and [Essex] enjoyed it so it was good.”

The match ended in a 10-0 win for the (full) UEA team, bettering their defeat of Essex last year in Colchester. Gransden said: “We wanted to beat our score from last year so we’re really happy with that.

Everyone shared the goals out as well.”

Both Gransden and Beauchamp

reflected on a job well done this season, with the ladies BUCS team promoted in the league with a comfortable second place finish, also winning the Midlands Conference Cup in Nottingham.

Gransden said she was “really happy.

The season couldn’t have gone much better.”

Beauchamp added: “We were relegated last year [in BUCS], struggling to field sixteen players and now we have thirty girls keen every week, it’s been such a great turnaround. I think Àine has done such a good job this year. It’s been a lot of fun – the Conference Cup was great.”

Gransden agreed that choosing the team for Derby Day was a tough task with increasing numbers of keen players: “It was hard. You want the seniors who are leaving to play, and at the same time everyone who has put so much effort into coming to BUCS this year, so it was a bit tricky.”

Meanwhile, UEA men’s Hockey comfortably won their game 8-1 at the Sportspark in front of their usual vociferous supporters.

Goalkeeper Lewis Nicoll saved a penalty flick in the match, with Dave Gilbert and Josh

Glasford among the goals for UEA. Aside from women’s Hockey, there were several other fixtures conceded.

American Football was called off, and Essex could not field a women’s Volleyball team to play UEA’s BUCS Trophy runner-up side, so in a quirk of Derby Day Essex’s Basketball team stepped in to fill the gap.

UEA Women’s Hockey: Izzi Mumbray (GK), Beth Rosier, Emily Sanderberg, Frankie Panayi, Steph Stubbs, Katie Beauchamp, Emma Zugic, Amy Jones, Libby Catchpole, Eva Carson, Bailey Bidnall, Anna Drape, Laura Graham, Nicola Ralph, Pippa Emmans, Àine Gransden (c).

Essex loan players: Emma Fox, Izzy Richardson, Niamh Healy, Lydia Matthews, Hannah Sadler, Charlie Erskine.

UEA Men’s Hockey: Lewis Nicoll (GK), Sam Green, Sam Crawford, Charlie Harvey, Liam Postance Eamer, Fraser Smith, Tom Elson, Arthur Graham, Rob Harbord, Thomas Chaney, Sollie Cook, Dave Gilbert, Harry Badger, Ben Thompson, Josh Glasford, Lawrence Oldham (c).

Tony Allen

14

Liveblog highlights SWIMMING It’s a swimming win for UEA! And we just KEEP winning.

Honestly swimming, thank you for making our job so easy.

After an amazing performance from the UEA team we are winning but a total of 10.5 points. Good luck to Essex in their final games. You really have been a great sport.

CHEER DANCE Essex blades say they are “happy to be here” telling concrete reporter they’re having a “good time and both teams are very supportive of each other!”

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL FULL TIME! 3-1 UEA Women’s. They jump up and down on jubilation and chant ‘Oh UEA is wonderful!’

I imagine they’re chuffed with this result as coming into it they said they feared it would be tight. The ladies were poor in the first half but came out in the second looking like another team.

A great turnaround and a deserved victory in the end!

BASKETBALL Sports reporter Meyzi speaks to the women’s basketball coach - “Tough first half. A lot of rookies against a very experienced Essex. Its definitely going to be a better second half.”

Men’s basketball is up next and a member said - “Everyones worked hard this season. They trained hard. If you want to see hard work, dedication and skill come and watch the game.”

POOL Match report in brief from James Wilson UEA Pool & snooker President: “Absolute pleasure getting everyone down and full squad against Essex. Outstanding performance from Jordan Jack, jack roberts, James Wilson, winning some vital frames, brilliant day, look forward to next year “It was a close start with UEA and Essex drawing the first few rounds but UEA managed to take the win in the final round with an outstanding performance by Oliver Munday” SCORE UPDATE 5-1 to UEA. Is it too early to start singing... oh UEA...

WOMEN’S LACROSSE Update from Sports Editor Tony Allen, 9-3 UEA, Stock shot saved by GK after Hartz wins draw Abay coming into game more, sets up stock who has great shot saved. In next play Abay back in the thick of defensive action and loses her boot for her efforts. Another Essex save UEA well on top but Essex not completely out of it Essex goalkeeper doing bits!