Varsity Day 2011 Round-Up

2011’s annual Varsity Day was held on Wednesday 16 March, and with 18 teams competing across 13 sports, was set to be the biggest Varsity to date. With good weather and confirmation that all outdoor sports at Peffermill were set to go ahead, it was shaping up to be a big afternoon of sport!

The Varsity Quaich, which the two Edinburgh Universities fight over every year, is awarded over the results of the five traditional sports: Men’s Football, Men’s and Women’s Hockey, and Men’s Rugby and Rowing and has been a permanent fixture in Edinburgh University’s trophy cabinet for the past 3 years.

The day kicked off at the CSE with Netball and mixed results. Edinburgh Uni 1st's dominated Heriot Watt 50-25, while it was a close match between Edinburgh Uni 5th's and Heriot Watt 2nd's, with Heriot Watt managing to hold a 30-27 lead.

Other CSE fixtures were hotly contested, with Heriot Watt forcing a win in Squash when time was short, and Edinburgh controlling the Basketball match with a final score of 77-45. Edinburgh Men’s team also came through in a tense Volleyball match to win in 5 sets.

Down at Peffermill, the Women’s Hockey was well underway with a frustrating first half for Edinburgh University, unable to capitalise on numerous chances. Heriot Watt bucked up in the second half to win 1-0. Both football fixtures were more positive, with Edinburgh University winning both men’s and women’s games: 3-0 between the men’s 1st teams, Heriot Watt 2nd's losing 4-3 to Edinburgh Uni 3rd's on penalties after a full time score of 1-1, and the Edinburgh ladies dominating their football match 11-3.

With the the fog setting in, Edinburgh succumbed to pressure in the Men’s Rugby, losing 25-5. At this point, Heriot Watt were on course to win the Quaich, with a score of 2-1 in the traditional sports, and Edinburgh knew the pressure was on for the Men’s Hockey and the final fixture of Rowing.

With Edinburgh Uni Men’s 1st's winning once and losing once to Heriot Watt in their league this year, everyone knew that it would be a close match between these huge sporting rivals. Edinburgh rose to the occasion and, with great support from the crowds, settled into the game and took the first half 4-0. Heriot Watt’s efforts in the second half were less impressive and Edinburgh prevented Heriot Watt from touching the score-line winning the match 7-0, bringing Edinburgh up to 2-2 in the Quaich contest.

With everything resting on the Rowing, the tension mounted as the ergometers were manoeuvred onto the astro pitch for the final fixture of the day. However, with slick changeovers and strong determination, Heriot Watt powered through to win all three races and therefore regained the Varsity Quaich after 3 years with Edinburgh University.

Well done to everyone who participated, and thank you to all the supporters who made the atmosphere electric on the day: we’re already looking forward to next year!