LEEDS 1st STORM PAST WARWICK IN PLAYOFF GAME

27/02/08

Leeds 1st 8 @ 3 Warwick Women's 1st

Warwick’s final league standing at the top of the BUSA Midlands Conference meant that promotion to one of the nations top divisions was theirs for the taking. Following some confusion over whether Warwick would be competing for a place in the Northern or Southern Premiership, the draw was made giving Warwick a first round test against Northern Conference runners up Leeds, where a win would see them contest Scottish University, St Andrews for a place in the Northern Division.

Despite the previous weeks loss to Premiership side Oxford the team was full of confidence that a trip across the boarder was all but certain. Leeds had faced a very similar fate in the same competition, being dumped out by Newcastle 2-13 and from the draw it was clear that they were also determined not to see this as the last game of their season.

Warwick were not without chances, but Leeds’s defence were quick to respond to their errors working hard to continually shut down the openings which appeared and Warwick were not allowed to capitalise. At the other end of the pitch Leeds were fortunate to put away the extra opportunities which arose giving them the edge in this fiercely contested game.

Leeds were jubilant with the final 3-8 score, leaving Warwick somewhat shocked that their previous confidence had been undone. The result means that Warwick will again be competing in the Midlands Conference next season, but with the demotion of Nottingham 1st from the Premiership and the inevitable strengthening of the Oxford and Cambridge sides, they can be sure to face a more taxing route to emulate this year’s outstanding successes.