University of Bristol Sport

Hear from our Director of Sport and club coaches on our recent successes in British Universities & Colleges Sport Playoffs. Plus look out for the photo gallery at the end of the article!

Summary from Director of Sport, Matt Birch:

The University is incredibly proud of our student teams, particularly those that gained promotion in recent weeks. These promotions come at the end of a long season and represent a tangible reward for the brilliant work of the club and their committees.

It highlights the outstanding partnership between Sport, Exercise and Health staff and our students, and provides a solid foundation for another successful season next year. Well done all.

🏐 Volleyball Men’s 1s (report by Coach Mauro Ceccarini)

This season has been full of accomplishments for the first team, not only by winning the Playoff on 1 May, but by getting there without any losses. The athletes have been motivated from day one for each training session and every game, which made the difference.

The promotion to Premier South means a lot to the club after we narrowly missed out on the opportunity last year. I’m really proud of the team and the way they have played, and couldn’t have asked for more!

Winning fixture: Bristol M1s v Brunel, home
Result: 3-0

🏉 Rugby, Men’s 2s (report by Head Coach, Olly Slym)

The 2nd XV were drawn a tough away playoff fixture to Kent, to play their 1st XV. With many students revising on the bus down, and following a 1 hour delay, the match kicked off 30 mins late but the team put in an incredible performance winning the game 15-38.

The 2nd XV are now promoted to the BUCS Prem South 2; the highest the team has been, and will now go on to face sides such as Swansea, Surrey, Reading and UWE 1st XV.

Winning fixture: Kent M1s v Bristol M2s, away
Result: 15-38

🎾 Tennis, Men’s 1s (report by Head Coach, Ali Blackett)

8 May was an absolute spectacle at Dingle! The club had around 100 spectators come to see the Men's 1s take on Essex 1s in a 2-court, stadium-like arena.

The fixture went toe-to-toe the whole day, with the sides remaining at deadlock after all rubbers, and two 10-point tiebreak singles. For the fairytale ending, outgoing senior players Josh (Captain) and Theo stepped up for the doubles shootout, and took the win 10-8 after being 8-4 down, to finish their university tennis careers.

What a day, and what a club. Southern Prem here we go!

Winning fixture: Bristol M1s v Essex M1s, home
Result: 3-3 went on to a tiebreak shootout, ending 2-1

🎾 Tennis, Women’s 1s (report by Head Coach, Ali Blackett)

Last week’s effort by the women in Essex was heroic; they played in a bubble and the temperature was about 40 degrees with humidity as well - they literally left everything out there.

We lost 1st singles in a tiebreak and 3rd singles in a 10-point tiebreak. If we had got one of them then we would have been promoted, but tennis is fine margins; the M1s have been promoted by 2 points and the W1s haven't, by 2 points.

Still, I couldn't be more proud of those women. We will get there next year!

Fixtures & results:
24 April: Bristol 1s 4-2 Cambridge
1 May: Bristol 1s 1-5 Essex
8 May: Cambridge 1s 4-2 Essex

View the BUCS Points table