After last week’s highs, lows and embarrassments of the first round of Cuppers, it was back to league action for college sides across Cambridge. With the majority of teams now hitting the four games played mark, we can now begin to see who might just be pushing for the top spots come the end of the season, as well as those who are starting to look nervously over their shoulders at the possibility of facing the drop.

In the Premier League, despite two postponements, the pick of the action came from the bottom half the table, with Selwyn demolishing struggling St Catherine’s, whilst Gonville and Caius managed to recover from last week’s humiliation at the hands of Sidney Sussex to record their first win of the season, defeating a deflated Fitzwilliam side. In the league’s only other fixture, Trinity Hall had to make do with just a point against Pembroke following a dramatic and contentious finale. 

Two previously unbeaten sides met in the form of Girton and Trinity in what was the clash of the Second Division over the weekend. Girton managed to put an end to Trinity’s excellent start, whilst there were also wins for high-fliers Darwin, Queens' and Churchill, with the latter now sitting top after their first four fixtures.

In the Third Division, Jesus IIs took advantage of Robinson’s postponed game against Long Road IIs to move top after a crushing victory of Gonville and Caius IIs. But with both Robinson and Queen IIs hot on their tails, boasting 100% records and having played two fewer fixtures, they may not remain there for long. At the other end, Magdalene’s woeful start to the season continued, remaining pointless after their first four games following defeat at Pembroke IIs. Downing also managed a win away to Fitzwilliam IIs.

PREMIER LEAGUE

ST CATHERINE'S 1 - 5 SELWYN

Selwyn: David Hawes, Lawrie Wigham (x2), Lewis Ball (x2) 

St. Catherine's: Jonny Crease                 

St Catherine’s are still struggling to adapt to life after the loss of five key players who left the college last season, shipping five more goals this weekend. The result takes their goal difference to a concerning minus twelve, leaving them rock bottom after four games played. Selwyn, on the other, hand remain unbeaten with three games played and will be thrilled with this victory, having been on top for most of the game. David Hawes’ opener was followed by braces for Lawrie Wigham and the returning Lewis Ball, who will be equally delighted to get back on the score sheet following a summer lay-off through injury. Jonny Crease’s long range strike late on for St Catherine’s was the only blot on this Selwyn performance, who, if it were not for a few last ditch tackles, could easily have scored a few more than they eventually did. St Catherine’s travel to newly promoted Pembroke in their next fixture, whilst Selwyn face King’s.

GONVILLE & CAIUS 1-0 FITZWILLIAM

Caius: Tom Dunn-Massey (OG)

Fitzwilliam suffered their fourth straight defeat and are now faced with the prospect of a fight to stay in the division following defeat to fellow strugglers Gonville and Caius. Caius were able to put memories of last week’s cup trauma behind them, restricting Fitzwilliam to few chances whilst forcing the issue for the single goal that won them the game. The First Half saw two outstanding saves from both goalkeepers, with Fitzwilliam’s Kaesi Opara pulling off a world class reflex stop to deny a shot from just 6 yards out, whilst at the other end a Tom Hickey drive from outside the box was flicked over superbly by the fingertips of the Caius stopper. The scoring was finally opened in the Second Half through an unfortunate own-goal from Fitzwilliam’s Tom Dunn-Massey, who could do little to prevent a deflected Caius cross sneak into the far corner of the net. Fitzwilliam pressed late for an equaliser, and came close when Sam Hobbs struck the post from a free kick. In the end, however, Caius held on to record their first win of the season. Caius move up to 7th in the table, whilst only goal difference keeps Fitzwilliam out of the drop zone, with Kings below them also having two games in hand. Fitz face the daunting task of ending their poor form at home to league leaders Jesus next week, whilst Caius host Trinity Hall.

PEMBROKE 2-2 TRINITY HALL

Trinity Hall: Adam Fellows, Dom Dathan 

Both Pembroke and Trinity Hall came into this game off the back of comfortable Cup wins, and the goals continued to flow in this one. However, in the end they were made to share the spoils – in perhaps controversial circumstances. In a relatively open game, it was Trinity Hall who started the brighter and took the lead through Adam Fellows, a lead which they held until the break despite Pembroke gradually forcing their way back into the game. However, Dom Dathan quickly doubled the visitor’s lead at the beginning of the second period, leaving Pembroke with an uphill task to get anything from the game. But, as they did against Fitzwilliam earlier in the season, they rallied and pulled off another impressive comeback. They continued to pose problems for Trinity Hall from set pieces, and finally got their reward with a back post header from a corner. Trinity Hall spurned some good opportunities, before, at the death, Pembroke were awarded a penalty. Tit Hall’s Nick Hands was adjudged to have tripped the Pembroke forward, to the dismay of the stunned away contingent, who saw it as a soft penalty. Amidst the controversy, however, the penalty was put away. Trinity Hall will feel aggrieved at having lost the game in such a manner, but they will know that they could easily have put the game to bed earlier on. 

DIVISION 2

QUEENS' 3-1 CHRIST'S

Queens': Matt Baron

Christ's: Steve Evans, Alex Knight, Sam Bowker

CLARE 0-1 CHURCHILL

Churchill: Joe Cammack

GIRTON 3-0 TRINITY

Girton: Jaewon Yun, Yusuf Mushtag, Gideon Levitt

DARWIN 2-0 EMMANUEL

(Wednesday) 

LONG ROAD 0-2 QUEENS

Queens: Alex Knight, Alastair Ward

DIVISION 3

FITZWILLIAM II 2-3 DOWNING II

GONVILLE & CAIUS II 0-6 JESUS II

PEMBROKE II 2-1 MAGDALENE I