Saints on the Road!

The journey began for the woman’s team back in early February when they progressed into the final 16 teams in D1 in the UK, due to their outstanding performance throughout the season.

They faced Dundee 1st in a battle to make it to the final 8 away to Dundee. Dundee were hungry for the win but could not be stopped by the Saints, rendering the Saints victorious and part of the final 8, representing as the only Scottish team left in the knockout games!

February 12th 2014, after weeks of preparation and hard training sessions, the Saints were ready for their latest and most important match up of the season so far. Newcastle University 1st team travelled up to face the Saints at home. Newcastle lay a close second to Lancaster University in the Northern 1A BUCS competition, only second due to points difference.Saints got off to a brilliant start, coming in as the underdogs and with an enthusiastic home crowd behind them, they put up a valiant fight against the English team. By the last quarter, the score was tight, but the Saints gave it their all to secure the victory! 73-62 was the final score, sending the Saints woman to the final 4 where they were set to face league champions Lancaster 1st team.

Exactly a month later, on the 12th of March 2014, the Saints women woke up in Lancaster having travelled down the night before. Refreshed from traveling down on the 11th, the ladies started their day with an early breakfast followed by an afternoon shoot around in the Sports Centre. Spirits were high as they used the rest of the day to relax and see the city before the big game, mentally preparing themselves for the match.

5.45pm. Tip off. Both teams out to make the best start they could, however it was Lancaster who used their home advantage to the best of their abilities, absolutely dominating the visiting team in the first quarter. The Saints fought back though throughout the next quarters, bring the score level by the fourth. Both teams were fighting hard for the win, however after a long battle, Lancaster fed off the energy of their home crowd and came away with the win. Final score 81-69 to Lancaster.

The loss saw the Saints woman leave the knockout competition having made it as far as the final four. A hard loss, but what the woman have achieved this year cannot be understated. Even getting into the final 16 teams has already made history for the relatively new club. With the ladies last few games of the season coming up, the look to defend their titles as Local League champions and Fife & Tayside champions.

#womennewcastlelancaster