Boarsity Clockwatch: Day Four

17:25: Let’s remember though, that leaves the overall Varsity result at 45-23 to Warwick. Disappointment in the finale but a truly crushing performance from #TeamWarwick all-round. Without wishing to get all Oscars acceptance speech, that concludes our Varsity Clockwatch for 2017, and there are a few people to thank. Huge thanks to Yash, Matt and Alex for their commitment and quality sports reporting throughout this weekend and this term, it’s been a truly titanic effort. Thanks also to everyone who has contributed to our Varsity coverage, however big or small. Catch our match reports online from this week onwards, and our Varsity pullout in week 9. I’ll leave with four words: 27 in a row.

17:20: Bollocks. Warwick keep the ball in hand but Coventry get hold of it and kick it out. Full time, 15-17.

17:18: Quick update on Will Taal: he’s been taken to hospital to get checked out.

17:13: BIG moment. Cov break the Warwick line and the ball finds its way to Kitto, but he fumbles! A try there might have finished it. Warwick somehow keep them out but eventually they get a penalty.

17:08: 10 to go…could we see a repeat of last year? #temptingfate

17:03: Clockwatch-watching means we miss the awarding of a Cov penalty under the posts. The annoyingly-reliable Kitto makes no mistake and Warwick have to come from behind again. 15-17.

16:59: YEEEEEEEESSSSS. It’s that man Folwell again as Warwick go over after a tap-and-go penalty. “HAVE THAT KITTO” screams Jack. You tell ’em, mate. The Cov fans give the kicker all manner of abuse as he lines up the kick and it floats wide. 15-14.

16:54: Man in the crowd Oliver Clark says that, despite the intense segregation, a few Cov fans have tried to get in the Warwick end. Sounds like some people have been watching too much Green Street.

16:50: Asked Jack and John to give me their 5-word summaries of the half so far – lots of words, but the general consensus was ‘scrappy’.

16:41: Kitto’s having an active game – he’s now in the sin bin. Can Warwick make the extra man count? Before I finish typing, they answer emphatically. Opposition defenders scatter like bowling pins as the Warwick juggernaut thunders through. Number 8 Alex Folwell finishing the move. Conversion missed, so 10-14. The comeback is on.

16:37: Well I had an eventful half-time break: first I ventured almost halfway round the stadium in search of a toilet and then I made my first appearance on WTV. Back to the action and Cov score straight from kick off, Kitto burning us with his pace. Converts it too, leaving Warwick with much to do. 5-14.

16:23: First signs of handbags as a couple of opposing players come together and exchange words. Cov player walks away accompanied by chants of “YOU FAT BASTARD” from the Warwick fans. No comment…

And that ties us up for the half. Warwick 5-7 Coventry.

16:14: It’s constant pressure from Warwick but nothing to show for it – a missed penalty here, a lost 5-metre scrum there…surely something’s got to give?!

16:08: Warwick definitely with the upper hand right now, but can they make it count? 5 minutes of pressure comes to nothing.

16:02: No contest…

Why watch England when you can watch Warwick vs Coventry in the Varsity finale? #TeamWarwick https://t.co/1hvqEuW93z

— RaW Sport (@warwick_varsity) February 26, 2017

15:59: HAVE THAT. Straight from kick-off Warwick go up the other end and reply instantly. In a carbon copy of his Varsity-winning try last year, captain Ed Wilkinson is the man to touch the ball down. Difficult conversion missed, 5-7.

15:56: First score of the afternoon and it goes to Coventry. After heavy pressure, their number 12, Ollie Kitto, dances over. Credit where credit’s due – great finish and impressive noise made by the Cov lot. The try is converted to make it 7-0.

15:53: “Thugs game, played by thugs, watched by thugs” is Deputy Editor-in-Chief Jack’s take on proceedings.

15:50: Penalty to Cov after a Warwick infringement in the 22. Silence fills the stadium for the first time this afternoon…MISSED! The ball rebounds off the post. Still 0-0.

15:45: A cry of “WAAAARWICK, WAAAARWICK” is met by the ever-predictable “Fuck off, Warwick” chant. “One song, you’ve only got one song” comes to mind…

15:41: Taal leaves the field on a stretcher but, thankfully, raises a hand to salute the applauding crowd. He’s replaced by Antoine Cornet and we’re back underway.

15:39: Still no play here. The Warwick team has moved into a huddle while Cov are passing the ball amongst themselves.

15:33: The first moment of note isn’t a good one: Warwick no. 6 William Taal charges down a Cov kick and then gets clattered. Immediate concern as he doesn’t move, with the stretcher rushed on to the pitch. Could be a significant break in play here.

15:29: That ‘Warwick WIN-LOSS Coventry’ sums up this weekend pretty well. Anyway, the teams are out and going through the pre-match pleasantries. We’re all ready to go. Can we close out Varsity with a win?

15:25: With one fixture left to play, Warwick lead Cov 45-21 – even our rivals know two points can’t make up that points difference. Here’s a rundown of today’s results:

Badminton: Warwick 2-6 Coventry

Men’s Football: Warwick 2-1 Coventry

Women’s Football: Warwick 1-0 Coventry

Men’s Lacrosse: Warwick 9-3 Coventry

Athletics: Warwick WIN-LOSS Coventry

15:18: See what I mean about the segregation? Even Russian hooligans might be put off by that, although then again they’re all nutters. A round-up of today’s results on the way next. 

15:15: Aaaaaand we’re back. For the last time in Varsity 2017, our Clockwatch is live. We’ll be bringing you every twist and turn of the next two hours as our boys attempt to finish this year’s competition with a bang. The big news at the Ricoh is that there’s sizeable segregation between the Cov and Warwick fans, thanks to last year’s trouble. Here’s my view:

11:47: And the women join in on the fun, scoring a last-minute winner to clinch the game 1-0! That’s it from us until 15:00, where we’ll be live from the Ricoh Arena. It’s been a fantastic day for #TeamWarwick thus far, can the Rugby lads keep up that winning feeling?

11:33: Not even a 5-1 Cov lead in the badminton can blight what a moment that is for men’s football and #TeamWarwick! It’ll take something special for the rugby to top that!

11:25: Fantastic scenes as men’s football see out their 2-1 lead! That really is as good as it gets at Varsity!!!

11:23: BUT NEVER MIND THAT! FULL-TIME AT THE PLACE! WARWICK MEN’S FOOTBALL WIN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2012!

11:20: Oh dear. Look away now Warwick Badders. Cov take a 4-1 lead in the men’s badminton.

11:16: And he’s off! James, trousers muddied but certain of a Warwick win, has left the lacrosse early to catch the bus for the rugby. Let’s hope he’s happy with the route! Warwick 7-2 Coventry.

11:07: Warwick heads starting to drop at the badminton as Cov extend their lead to 3-1. Men’s football, however, are still holding on to their slender lead! What a win that would be! 

10:55: James reports of a Cov goal at the lacrosse, 6-2; Yash continues to question his future in student journalism at the badminton, and Alex is surrounded by Cov ultras at the football. #someonetellthemhe’sfromWarwick #weforgiveyouYash

10:48: A change in the wind? Cov get one back in the football and are pressing for an equaliser. 2-1. Meanwhile, men’s badminton go 2-1 down at Desso Hall. The curse of Yash remains very much alive. 

10:41: In a bizarre if not unsurprising turn of events, Sports Editor James is confused at the lacrosse. Is it half-time now? Does lacrosse even have a half-time? What are those sticks they’re carrying? #shouldknowbetter

10:37: Reports in from Yash of a tight match in the men’s badminton where #TeamWarwick are seeking to do one better than last year and beat Cov. Will Yash’s curse of the draw strike again?

10:32: There are some crazy scorelines right now in the early fixtures, none less so than in the men’s football. The scores as they stand read:
men’s football Warwick 2-0 Coventry; women’s football Warwick 0-0 Coventry; men’s lacrosse – Warwick 5-1 Coventry.

10:23: Surely not another one?! It is!! Absolute scenes at The Place as Warwick take a 2-0 lead on the stroke of half-time! To put things in perspective, men’s football haven’t beaten Cov since 2012. THIS IS MASSIVE. 

10:18: The whistle’s gone and it’s 2-0 to men’s lacrosse at half time! They’ll be very happy with that! Meanwhile Cov chants ring round The Place at the football – ‘that’s big talk from 1-0 down’ says Alex.

10:13: And they’re raining in now! Having waltzed to the Midlands 2A title last week, Warwick go 2-0 up in the men’s lacrosse! 

10:10: GOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!! Warwick take the lead in the football after a Cov goalkeeping error proved costly! 1-0 Warwick!

10:06: Sports Officer Ted Crowson certainly appeared to be feeling those #VarsityVibes last night.

@SportsOfficer …. pic.twitter.com/EPrlKWnHfT

— Lisa Dodd-Mayne (@LisaDoddMayne) February 25, 2017

9:58: In fairness, he’s not wrong. As we await news to start trickling in from the morning action, let’s take the chance to reflect on a triumphant evening for #TeamWarwick, with wins for both UWLHC and UWMHC. They warned us it was #gunagetlairy, and so it proved.

Another Varsity win for the boys, crowd was unreal thanks so much for coming!! #magmen #TeamWarwick #Varsity

— UWMHC (@UWMHCMagmen) February 25, 2017

9:50: And breaking news already from the men’s lacrosse at Cryfield! A goal, perhaps? Some prodigious display of #TeamWarwick brilliance? Nope, just James complaining about the buses. 

Can you put something in the clockwatch about being late because of the torturous and downright pointless u17 bus route

9:40: Today’s main attraction is without doubt the Rugby, where the Ricoh Arena will come alive with the sound of Varsity at 15:15. But before our coronation as Varsity champions, there are no less than 5 fixtures to get through, all with the promise of yet more Cov drubbing.

9:29: While I bring this to you from the comforts of my pitiful quaint south Leam flat, the Clockwatch team are up bright and early to get in the thick of the action. #OneTeamOneDream

9:19: No doubt many of you will be recovering from a wild night of Varsity-inspired celebrations. Alternatively, you might have gone to The Assembly. Fear not – as ever the Clockwatch team have got you covered.

9:12: Talking of our vanquished foes, has nobody told them yet? That’s going to be an awkward phone call…

The final score fro tonight is in. men's hockey: Coventry 2 – Warwick 7. We've still got one more day to go! #OneTeamOneDream

— CUSU (@cusu) February 25, 2017

9:08: So now we can all relax, right? Well, sort of, yes. But it would surely be amiss of Warwick to spurn the chance to kick a man when he’s down – that man being the POLY. 

9:05: Right, now that’s out the way, let’s do this. So last night’s hockey triumph pushed Warwick into an unassailable 37-19 lead, meaning for the 27th time, we’ve beaten our now not so noisy neighbours.

9:01: WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON! WE WON!

It's official! We've gone and done it again – a 27th straight victory over Coventry for Varsity ? well done to all of #teamwarwick #27nil ? pic.twitter.com/tDczF2KvhN

— Warwick Sport (@warwicksport) February 26, 2017