Flying Start For Balliol
First round basketball cuppers at Iffley Road
This year's men Basketball Cuppers should be a fiercely contested competition as usual. 22 teams entered the group stage which will be running until 7th week. The best two best from each group will then play a final eights tournament in 8th week. Headed by Blues Dan Woodbridge, Decker Walker and Dave Riley, defending champions University College look favourites again this year.
However, every team has a fighting chance as only two university players (blues and twos) per side are allowed on court at anyone time. Each college will have a chance to succeed, with team depth and fighting spirit set to become decisive factors. Action started with a Group 1 game between Balliol and Christ Church.
Surprisingly un-impressed by an 8am tip off, Blue Graham Ewen and former Blue Andrew Serazin gave Balliol a strong impetus from the very start leaving their opponents 39-19 at half-time. However, Christ Church started the second half valiantly, fighting back with 13 unanswered points. In the end Balliol proved too strong winning 68-39 displaying their credentials as major contenders in Group 1.
In the second game of Group 1, Corpus Christi faced the challenging task of playing 40 minutes against Exeter with just three players. Despite this, the Division One champions from the second college league season started the better. Twos’ Samuel Hastings gave Corpus an early 13-4 lead, but Exeter fought back and reached half time up by nine points.
Rejuvenated by the interruption, Corpus managed to level the game again, but Exeter’s superior teamwork and depth of squad left intrepid Corpus literally breathless going down 44-34.
In Group 2 there was a narrow victory for Oriel over Pembroke whilst in the other match Nuffield earned three points with their better time keeping skills as New failed to make the 8am tip off on Tuesday morning.
5th May 2005