Sam’s Section: Hartpury double up on silverware and Swans’ co-manager oversees University of Gloucestershire Varsity defeat
Welcome back to this week’s segment on footballing action in and around Gloucestershire which has seen a lot of ups and downs.
This week, I want to focus of our University sports team from Gloucestershire in Hartpury College & University and the University of Gloucestershire.
Two educational establishments close to me having attended Hartpury and currently the University of Gloucestershire.
And where better to start then Hartpury who have completed a clean sweep of silverware this week between their Hellenic League Division One side and their University teams.
On Saturday, Hartpury University FC were finally crowned champions of the Hellenic League Division One following a confident 4-0 victory away to bottom of the league Moreton Rangers.
A brace from King Baidoo, a goal from Louis Manning and a Moreton own goal saw Hartpury also secure promotion to the Hellenic League Premier.
The newly crowned champions began their reign with a 1-1 draw at home to playoff chasing, FC Stratford in their penultimate game on Tuesday night which saw Hartpury hand out ten league debuts.
Following the well fought point, Hartpury opened an incredible 20-point gap at the top of the league highlighting their quality and dominance shown throughout the season.
Hartpury have some time off until their final game of the season as they don’t take on Southam United at Hartpury College until April 3rd.
Now on Wednesday Hartpury University’s Senior Men completed the silverware double taking home the BUCS National Championship.
The University side held on to beat Chichester University 1-0 in the final at Loughborough University, ending a four year wait to retain the trophy.
Bishops Cleeve duo Ethan Dunbar and James Sunley both got their hands on the trophy, lifting it aloft for the first time.
Hartpury University vs Southam United (Hellenic League Division One – Wednesday 3 April; 19:45 kick off)
Down the road now to the University of Gloucestershire where it was Varsity this week which welcomed the University of Worcestershire down once again to fight it out for the cup.
Worcester dominated many of the events across Monday, Tuesday and especially the football on Wednesday.
Gloucester travelled to Worcester for the final day with the women’s and men’s football one of the standout events of the day.
But it was a disappointing day for Gloucester who were defeated in both fixtures with the men’s side losing 5-2 in what started as a tight affair but later turned into Worcester domination.
Slimbridge co-manager, Tom Deakin had a busy 24 hours going from Wantage Town with the Swans to Worcester with the university’s women’s team.
Unfortunately, after a spirited performance, Deakin saw his women’s side beaten 5-0 by a quality filled Worcester side which all but sealed the Varsity Cup for the University of Worcestershire.
This defeat came less than 24 hours after he saw his Swans side play out a vital 1-0 win with Wantage in their final away game of the season, pushing them closer to a place in the playoffs.
Follow Sam Yapp on Twitter (X) @SJY_Journo for more
READ MORE: Check out the fixtures for Non-League Day 2024 in and around Gloucestershire right here
READ MORE: Check out the Women’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Sunday right here
Cover photo courtesy of Ethan Dunbar
