Sport

Faye Kidd, HUS Sports Officer

Badminton Last year in the inter-college league the Men’s Badminton team were promoted in both Michaelmas and Lent terms, finishing first both times and losing only one match. This meant promotion from division 5 to division 3. In Cuppers, they reached the semi-final stage but lost to Jesus College in a close match finishing 2–1.

Basketball Homerton’s Basketball team had a successful year, achieving promotion from division 3 to division 1.

Cricket Homerton’s Cricket team had a weather affected season which allowed only three games to be played.The first, a friendly against Homerton Hackney, resulted in heavy defeat on a sodden pitch, but was essentially a warm up game for the season. In Cuppers, they were drawn against the seeded Christ’s, and against Magdalene. After a valiant fight, the team went down to Christ’s but went into the Magdalene game with boosted spirits and high expectations. These were thoroughly met, as Homerton batted steadily in cold rain and fading light, resulting in a well-deserved victory. Unfortunately the loss to Christ’s meant they didn’t progress to the Cuppers quarter finals.

Men’s Football The Homerton Football Club’s four teams were involved in numerous leagues and cups in 2015. Last year the First XI finished mid-table after a slow start to the season and a Cuppers that extended as far as the semi-final.The First XI also visited the Leyton Orient Supporters Club (Leyton Orient Football Club having been founded by Homer ton alumni) and played them

at Brisbane Road, on 2nd May, in a high-scoring game which finished 6–4 to Leyton Orient. Mar tin Minkovski from Homerton’s First XI represented the Cambridge Falcons and has been selected this year again to play for them. The Fourth XI, captained by Mikael Åstrand, won the ‘bucket’, beating Trinity Bruces 3–1.

Women’s Football The 2014–15 season was one of great success for Homerton College Women’s Football Club, with both on- and off-pitch achievements. On the pitch, HCWFC were undefeated in League Two, winning the league, and therefore winning promotion into League One for the 2015/16 season. HCWFC also gained the highest goal difference in the league and due to the size and enthusiasm of the squad was one of the few teams in League Two not to have forfeited a match. Despite great success in the League, the HCWFC’s Cuppers bid was not quite so successful. Despite a convincing 3–0 victory over Catz, HCWFC suffered defeat in the second round of the Cup at the hands of Emma.

Off the pitch, the club secured sponsorship from our friends at the Maypole, meaning HCWFC had its own kit once more for the first time in three years. With new kit and our promotion into League One, HCWFC has high hopes for the 2015/16 season! With an awesome influx ofenthusiastic freshers – all with strong footballing potential and abilities – giving us a sizeable squad, as well as having several of our players playing for the Cambridge Women’s Blues Teams, we are looking forward to a fantastic year with a great team! Last but not least, we’ll be having fun bonding times with some socials with the Men’s teams, football-match watching in the Buttery and of course, our weekly pub outings after matches.

Netball Homerton Netball had a very successful year last year, with both the Mixed and the Ladies teams winning the majority of their matches! Playing with friends, old and new, was great fun, and the social events that punctuated the calendar helped to provide some vaguely netball-related frivolity. The highlight of the year for the Ladies team, however, was Cuppers; we made it all the way to the quar ter-finals! We can only hope that Netball this year can live up to last!

Squash The SquashTeam reached the quar ter finals of Cuppers before being narrowly defeated by Magdalene. They won promotion in the League, after beating all but one of the other teams in their division.

Rowing Last season’s performance could only be described as a triumph for Homerton College Boat Club. The season began with some admirable performances in Queens’ Ergs, Emma Sprints and Fairbairns and continued to improve with some solid rowing in Lent bumps. The M1s also put up a good fight in the Head ofthe River Race in March. However, true celebrations lay in store for May Bumps. With high hopes and the pressure on, M1, M2, M3 and W1 took to the Cam. It was a tense week, to say the least, as M1 struggled to stay afloat at the beginning ofthe event before bouncing back to bump St Edmund’s and W1 getting closer with every stroke to the coveted blades of glory. The week ended with success for HCBC with sets of blades for W1 and M3. M2 also had reason to celebrate, having moved up three places in their division. Other highlights include the purchase of a new Janousek boat, ‘Petaluma’ for M1, thanks to a generous donation and HCBC’s 24-hour sponsored erg.

Rugby

The rugby season was a successful yet ultimately

disappointing one for a Homerton Rugby team

chasing promotion. Homerton started the year

brightly and continued to set the early pace in the

division, winning five games in a row at the start

of the season. These victories were built upon

intricate interplay out wide on the wings as well as

some resolute defending. As the season progressed, injuries began to take their toll on the squad and eventually Homerton fell to a 7 and 3 record. This was good enough only for second place in the league, just shy of promotion. Despite this, the season overall was a great success for Homerton rugby and showed plenty of promise for a sustained promotion push in the 2015–2016 season n