With the league season two months old most of Academy’s teams are well into their fixtures now and we’re starting to get a picture of where they might stand in their respective divisions.
The most dramatic improvement has come from our ladies who started with a solid 4-2 away win at RWP and have gone on to only drop one game in their following three matches. With 21 points from a possible 24 so far Jo’s team could be on a promotion push. Mens 1 also started strongly with three wins on the bounce but blotted their copy book with a narrow away loss to St Ursulas last time out. Still, 17 points from a possible 24 is a good foundation and we’re yet to reach the half way point of the season.
It’s fair to say Academy’s Mixed teams haven’t had the starts they might have hoped for this term. A couple of seasons ago, following their first promotion, Matt commented that he thought Mixed 1’s true level was Division 3. Having made that step, with a second promotion last season, that theory is being put to the test. And after two firm 5-1 thrashings it was looking as though it might be a case of; intercept the envelope; hide the result from your parents and come back the following year for a retake. However, a 6-0 away win at RWP last night has improved things somewhat and if that upturn can be maintained, who knows, Matt might be proved right. In Division 5a, Mixed 2 got away well enough with a decent 4-2 away win at Avon Jets but followed it with a 4-2 loss at home to UWE. However, a quick look at the tables shows no one is currently running away with the division and if it remains tight, that 50% start could be better than it initially appears.
Moving over to North Somerset, Mens 2 have made the most of their newcomer status and stormed to two impressive 6-0 wins. Being new to the NSBL and having never played any of the other teams in the division before it’s hard to gauge how strong the competition is but 12 points out of 12 isn’t to be argued with in any league so watch this space.
