University of Chichester Sports Round-Up: Men's football sides advance in a week of cup action for Chi

It was a week of cup action for University of Chichester teams in various knockout competitions organized by British Universities and Colleges Sport.
Cup action from Chichester University sixth team (in blue) against Kings College thirds. All pictures by Jordan Colborne.Cup action from Chichester University sixth team (in blue) against Kings College thirds. All pictures by Jordan Colborne.
Cup action from Chichester University sixth team (in blue) against Kings College thirds. All pictures by Jordan Colborne.

The Chi men’s football firsts booked their place in the next round of the Trophy thanks to a 4-3 win on penalties after the match with Southampton ended 0-0 after extra-time. Danny Potter’s side travel to Loughborough for a last-16 tie.

The second team beat Brighton thirds 3-1 away en route to the South Eastern Conference Cup quarter finals. James Feist put Chichester ahead in the first five minutes. Brighton equalized ion 38 minute before Marc Holland and Harvey Wright added goals late on. In the Conference Plate, the fives were 3-1 winners against Essex fours.

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The sixes will join the fives in the quarters after they won 4-2 at home to Kings College thirds in a match that featured four goals in the opening 20 minutes.

Chichester University sixes celebrate.Chichester University sixes celebrate.
Chichester University sixes celebrate.

Chichester captain Ciar Cox had the game’s first chance when he met a corner with a header that went just wide before Owen Leworthy put the home side ahead after seven minutes. The visitors levelled moments later from inside the six-yard box following a corner.

It was 2-1 to Chi on 13 minutes when Kieran Dowell rounded the 'keeper and tucked the ball away. Once again Kings came back, flicking in a set-piece from the left and Kings began to dominate.

Jamie Guerra cleared a shot on the line and Chi 'keeper Bill Maynard pulled off a string of fine saves in a spell the visitors dominated. However, Dowell made Kings pay for not taking their chances finishing off a swift counter attack on the half hour.

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There were opportunities for Chichester after the break to add to their one goal advantage. Jonny Linard hit the post ten minutes in with a cross-cum-shot and only a last gasp clearance denied Leworthy another goal sixty seconds later.

Action from Chichester University sixes against Kings College thirds.Action from Chichester University sixes against Kings College thirds.
Action from Chichester University sixes against Kings College thirds.

The second half petered out into a scrappy affair but sub Jacob Mills wrapped things up for Chi with a tap-in late in the game.

In rugby, the men’s firsts narrowly defeated Imperial (Medics) second team 22-20. Callum Gibson scored the home side’s try and Matt Hunt made the conversion. Hunt kicked five penalties, the last of these coming in the final minute to clinch a spot in the Conference Cup quarter-finals.

The women’s team were knocked out of the Trophy by Bath, losing 31-8.

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Men’s table tennis edged past Southampton Solent 9-8 and will face Oxford in the last-16 of the Trophy. Men’s tennis recorded a third straight 12-0 victory in all competitions beating UCL (RUMS) threes as they made it to the last eight of the Conference Cup. Women’s tennis beat Essex 12-0 to set up a quarter-final encounter with Imperial.

University of Chichester sixes celebrate victory over Kings College thirds.University of Chichester sixes celebrate victory over Kings College thirds.
University of Chichester sixes celebrate victory over Kings College thirds.

There were cup defeats for the university’s volleyball teams. The men’s seconds lost in straight sets at home to Portsmouth firsts.

The visitors started brightly and three consecutive spikes after the first time-out helped them to an 18-7 lead that they built on to take the opening set 25-17. The early stages of the second set were close but Portsmouth won seven points in a row to make it 16-6.

Trailing by 13 points at one time, Chichester pulled the score back to 22-15 only for the visitors to take the set 25-16. Portsmouth raced to a 12-2 lead in the third set before the home side forced a shift in momentum winning seven straight points themselves to narrow the margin to 12-9.

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Things changed again and Pompey went 20-10 up and held on to take the third set 25-19 despite a late rally from Chi.

The women volleyballers also lost 3-0 to Brunel.

Elsewhere, in hockey, there were last-16 exits for all three sides. The men's firsts were beaten 2-1 by Royal Holloway; the men's seconds lost 1-0 to LSE; and women’s hockey suffered a 5-0 defeat against Queen Mary.

Women’s lacrosse made the quarter-finals following a 27-1 victory at home to Imperial and the netball firsts maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 47-39 win over UCL (RUMS) seconds and will play local rivals Portsmouth in the last eight of the Conference Cup.