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NEWS1-12CAROLYNNE17-39COMMENT40-49SPORT50-5653Women’s Football look <strong>to</strong>prove a point against YorkKatie McTagueAfter securing safety in their BUCSleague last year, Lancaster UniversityWomen’s Football team decided<strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>ughen training regulationsand promote the importance ofteam spirit <strong>to</strong> push <strong>for</strong> better resultsand an overall better experience<strong>for</strong> everyone involved. An inclusiveclub, trials in Week 1 merelyaimed <strong>to</strong> unite new and old playersand assess the ability of enthusiasticFresher’s. What became evidentfrom the start, however, was thatthe standard of football had vastlyimproved, as had the feel of theclub as a whole.Nervously travelling <strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>ughopponents Liverpool Hope in thefirst game of the season, the girlscame away with an incredible 2-1vic<strong>to</strong>ry over a strong and physicalLiverpool side, carrying thismomentum <strong>to</strong> beat Manchester 2-0at home, and thrash local rivalsCumbria 8-0 away. With successivestrong vic<strong>to</strong>ries came belief andconfidence, and with belief andconfidence came yet more wins.MMU Cheshire suffered twice atthe hands of the girls, as, yet again,did Liverpool and Manchester. Defeat<strong>to</strong> UCLAN seemed <strong>to</strong> <strong>only</strong> spura team insistent that nothing butthe league title would suffice.The 13th March, the last gameof the season, saw the team needingall three points at home <strong>to</strong>Cumbria <strong>to</strong> secure the league titlefrom chasers Liverpool. Specta<strong>to</strong>rsgalore, champagne ready and waiting,a nervous start due <strong>to</strong> whatwas at stake saw questions beingasked.Then, once the first goal hit theback of the net, the pressure subsidedand the girls revelled in thrashingtheir opposition 9-0 <strong>to</strong> securethe championship. The celebrationsafterwards rivalled that of a ChampionsLeague final win, yet not acare was given. The league hadbeen won, they had worked amazinglyhard, and they fully deserved<strong>to</strong> enjoy their success.Now, with Roses just around thecorner, intensive training has replacedthe relaxation proceedingtitle winning. 3 teams will competeat York: two indoor 5 a side teamson the Saturday, and an 11 a sidesquad on the Sunday. The winningmentality has not disappeared. Aswith the league, second is not goodenough and every player believesthat they are more than capable ofbeating their fiercest rivals.However, York Women’s footballhave themselves been crownedchampions of their prospectiveleague, creating a Roses battle ofepic proportions. Fully aiming <strong>to</strong><strong>to</strong>p off an already brilliant season,Roses is LUWFC’s chance <strong>to</strong> havethe perfect year, and strongly encourageas much support as possibleat Roses 2013.Lancaster Rugby players represent North-WestNathan O’ConnorMax BrownGareth Hough<strong>to</strong>nThree members of the LancasterUniversity Rugby League teamhave been selected <strong>to</strong> representthe North West Regional Studentside in this year’s Student RugbyLeague Festival. After anotherfantastic season that saw the sidego undefeated in the league, CaptainMax Brown, Chairman GarethHough<strong>to</strong>n and <strong>to</strong>p try-scorer NathanO’Connor made the final cutafter the Lynx saw a record numberof players attend the rigorous trialweekends.The annual festival, <strong>to</strong>be held at Derby, is the showcaseupon which the England Studentsquad is selected. Representativesfrom regional sides spanning thelength and breadth of the countrybattle it out in the hope of gaininginternational honours.Lynx captain Max Brown, athird year English student fromGrizedale, is set <strong>to</strong> lead from thefront having been selected asstarting prop <strong>for</strong>ward and ViceCaptain <strong>for</strong> the North West side.This isn’t Brown’s first representativehonours, having previouslyplayed <strong>for</strong> Super League Academyoutfit Hull Kings<strong>to</strong>n Rovers.The two time ‘player of the year’has been the corners<strong>to</strong>ne of Lynx’simpressive attack this year, demonstratinga dynamic skill set thathas proven <strong>to</strong> be invaluable <strong>for</strong> theLynx this season.Continuing the Lynx’s <strong>for</strong>wardsdomination is back-rower andChairman Gareth Hough<strong>to</strong>n. Gareth,a third year <strong>Pendle</strong> student, isanother player <strong>to</strong> have gained previoushonours in the <strong>for</strong>m of servicearea representation. Hough<strong>to</strong>nhas been an ever-present <strong>for</strong>ce inboth attack and defence this year.Boasting an impressive defensivegame and an eye <strong>for</strong> the try line,Hough<strong>to</strong>n surely stands in goodstead <strong>to</strong> represent his country.Lynx’s <strong>only</strong> back selected <strong>to</strong> representthe North West is their <strong>to</strong>ptryscorer and half-back NathanO’Connor, a third year PPR studen<strong>to</strong>f <strong>Pendle</strong> College. With this beingO’Connor’s third season of RugbyLeague, it would be fair <strong>to</strong> say hehas hit the ground running and willleave a sizeable hole in this <strong>for</strong>midableLynx side. Having alreadyPlayer Profilesbeen invited <strong>to</strong> the Ireland trainingcamp, O’Connor is optimistic goingin<strong>to</strong> the Regional Festival and possiblythe Student World Cup.The club has a prestigious his<strong>to</strong>ryof taking players with real talentand developing them <strong>to</strong> an internationalstandard, although sucha representation has never seen onthis scale be<strong>for</strong>e. With the very realpossibility of three internationalplayers in the club, now is an excitingtime <strong>for</strong> Lancaster Lynx andRugby League as a whole.Max Brown Nathan O’Connor Gareth Hough<strong>to</strong>n
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