Issue 1247 - The Courier

STAN CALVERT CUP
WINNERS 2012
100.5 - 52.5
Photography: Zander
Record victory makes it five in a row
Uni bring the cup home for another year after monumental defeat of the Poly
By Rory Brigstock-Barron
Sports Editor
On Sunday night Athletic Union officer Alice
Holloway hoisted aloft the most prestigious
sporting trophy in the North East as Newcastle
claimed the Stan Calvert Cup for an unprecedented
fifth consecutive time.
An array of outstanding performances, not
just in the last week but over the season, from
Newcastle students and teams alike, saw a huge
margin of victory for the winning side as they
stormed to a 100.5-52.5 win. Despite failing
to cap off the overall victory with a win in the
Rugby Union showcase event, Newcastle were
the side celebrating as the Poly went home with
their tails between their legs. The 100.5 points
earned by Team Newcastle is a record, as well as
the 48 point margin being the second highest.
One of the most striking aspects of the victory
was the number of teams that upset the
odds to beat a Northumbria side with a far more
impressive BUCS record. The Women’s Football
First’s performance on Friday night was a prime
example of such giant killing, the BUCS Northern
Division Three B side winning a close encounter
over Northern Premier League leaders
Northumbria Firsts. At full-time in that match,
Performance Sport Manager Fraser Kennedy
told captain Steph Dalby that it would be the
stand out result of this year, no matter what else
happened, but the events of Sunday certainly
pushed it hard.
The Netball Firsts achieved a great result by
beating their counterparts from the Poly, despite
being a league below them in BUCS competition
and some of their opponents playing in the
Netball Superleague. Women’s Badminton also,
earned a shock point for the Uni, stealing a draw
against a side that had beaten them comfortably
earlier in the season. The result was even more
remarkable after they had found themselves 4-1
down with three games to play.
Prior to the day there had also been a surprise
win for Ladies’ Cricket, albeit thanks to some
horribly wayward Northumbria bowling and as
the surprise points racked up, a Newcastle win
began to seem inevitable.
Other sides such as Rowing and Women’s Lacrosse
handed out a proverbial ‘Poly-bashing’.
The Intermediate Women’s rowing side still
managed to win despite Northumbria sneakily
switching their crew and even though a win for
Women’s Lacrosse was expected, their 34-1 annihilation
of the Poly was as comprehensive a
victory as you can get.
While Newcastle went in to Sunday having
already established an impressive lead in the
events leading up to Stan Calvert Sunday, it
was the day itself that held most of the excitement,
as those who tuned in to The Courier’s
live blog can attest to. With the surprise Badminton
draw proving to be an early blow for the
Poly, they did not even get close to the Uni score
throughout the whole day. A shock defeat for
the Ladies’ Hockey Seconds and a narrow defeat
for the Men’s Football Firsts were the only negative
results to filter in from Coach Lane, while
results elsewhere around the City, such as two
rugby wins, a victory for Men’s Lacrosse and the
demolition job done by Women’s Lacrosse at
Bullocksteads and wins for both Fencing teams
at the Sports Centre meant the mood as Newcastle
fans filtered into Gateshead Stadium was
positive to say the least. While the showpiece
event finished in a disappointing defeat, it was
the overall score that mattered most and AU officer
Alice Holloway could not contain her joy
as she lifted the coveted trophy in front of the
Uni supporters.
Speaking after the day, Holloway told The Courier:
“Winning five years in a row is a massive
achievement for Team Newcastle, and I am so
honoured to have lifted the Cup! Now I can
breathe a sigh of relief; it was a huge team effort
and everyone should be really proud.”