| Bath University | vs. | Aberystwyth Mens 1st |
| 108 | 135 |
After losing the majority of his hair in the lead up to the Bath meeting (due to socio-political reasons that one should now and forever more never discuss), Captain Pete drove the team to the final league match of the season.
In light of exams we had lost Killion McKenzie and Dan McNabb, who were replaced by Thomas Bayston and Second Team regular Tim Burgum who both stepped up to fill the void with enthusiasm.
The appearance of Bath's mixed results led us to believe that their home advantage would be our downfall. However, this was not the case as the Aber boys shot out of the blocks with all guns blazing!
A strong start from Ben Vermeire, Marc Walford and Captain Pete in foil gave us immediate hope - And although Ben did have to work hard against Bath's determined closer in the final bout - We were able to retain the lead and win foil 45-43.
The sabre boys produced a fantastic fencing spectacle, with a reliable
performance from Bayston, a demolishing defeat of the Bath closer from
Token, and highly commendable +13 indicator from Tom Maddox. Aber destroyed the Bath sabreur's, winning 45-23.
Epee was closely fought, but it never really looked like Bath could win the weapon. We quickly gained enough points to secure the match but everyone was determined to also steal the moral three-weapon victory. Tim found himself having some problems in his bout against the Bath captain and closer, but his previous and latter performance were both well executed. Marc "Mr. Consistent" Walford yet again proved to be the rock upon which the team can rely and which Pete would like to polish and take to bed. His unique technique, ability to read his various opponent's and adapt accordingly created the cushion of points required for Captain Pete to close without pressure. Aber won epee 45-42.
An overall performance to be proud of when one considers that Bath only got relegated from the Premiership this season.
Final Score: Bath 108 - Aber 135
Man of the Match - Marc Walford
Dick of the Day - Tom Maddox (...He know's why...)
Pete Bond
| Aberystwyth Men's 1st | vs. | Exeter |
| 97 | 116 |
Not an awful lot to say about this match...Other than the word 'Poo'.
Unfortunately a very sub-standard foil performance left us on the back foot for the entirety of the match. We won sabre and only lost out on epee by two or three hits, therefore the score really does reflect the day's disappointing foil form, especially having been on home soil.
Aberystwyth 97 - Exeter 116
Man of the match - Tom Maddox
Pete Bond
| Aberystwyth Women's 1st | vs. | Swansea |
| 127 | 128 |
Nice to see some friendly faces from Swansea, a few of us remember last year's match against them; we were hoping they had forgotten. Pretty much full strength side again, so there was hope things would go well.
As is tradition we started the afternoon with a bit of foil, Steph, Ellie and I making up the team. Everything went very well, and by the end of the weapon with just me left to close the score stood at 40-19 to us. Then I got on piste and had a total blank, managed to let them get 20 points off me, what was I not doing?? Final score for foil, 44-39 to us. Sabre time and my chance to pull myself together, along with Steph and Pip starting their effort for the day. It was a bit of a seesaw effect in this weapon and very evenly matched the whole way through, in the last bout Steph was tied at 44-44 with everything resting on the final point, success as we took the weapon 45-44. Overall at this point we were holding onto a six point lead, just needed to hold onto this in Epee and the match would be ours, but yet again things did not go our way, missing out on a draw by just one point Swansea took Epee 45-38, and the match by one point. Final score, a win for Swansea 128-127.
Special mention must go to Steph this week, amazing personal score of +18, I didn't even know that was possible!
Georgie Leach
| Aberystwyth Women's 1st | vs. | Exeter |
| 96 | 125 |
Yet again the match started with a disagreement about what time we were meant to be starting at, this seems to be becoming another bad habit. However, being a home match and at a reasonable hour the girls with Wednesday lectures got a chance to show everyone what they can do. Also meant that Steph and I weren't doing all 3 weapons, time to concentrate on what we can do.
As usual we started with foil, everything was looking rather promising as Steph, Lisa and I managed to win 45-35. Not a bad start I thought. Bring on Sabre! Steph, Pip and Bryony stepped up to show us their moves, all started rather well before the points stopped coming and we lost 45-23, oops. So with a weapon won each, and Exeter in the lead by 12 points we needed a big push in Epee to have a chance of winning. Lisa, Ruth and I took on this challenge, hoping that there would be some luck on our side. I had already reached my bad mood at this point, and been given vodka to try and sort me out, unfortunately nothing seemed to work. Exeter are just too good, considering they are top of the league having won all their matches this makes me feel slightly better, They won Epee 45- 28, well deserved in this weapon too, the final score being a win for Exeter 125-96.
Good effort on the day by all of the girls, thanks to everyone for all of the support too, it was needed by the end.
Georgie Leach
| Southampton | vs. | Aberystwyth Women's 1st |
| 116 | 128 |
First away match of the season, first away match ever for me. At the union and on a coach by 7.30am, the basketball match was cancelled so had a huge coach just for 4 fencers and the badminton team. Many hours passed before we finally made it to Southampton, the most excitement from the journey there was M&S food at the services... oh, and trying to decide what all the police in the services car park were there for, we came up with some great ideas.
The team to face Southampton consisted of me, Steph, Ruth and Pip. Yet again Steph and I were to be fencing all three weapons; this seems to be becoming a bad habit of mine. First time for everything, we were fencing in a cinema. This did provide us with very comfortable seating whilst not fencing, however, so can't complain. We were also very jealous of Southampton's electric piste.
Steph, Ruth and I stepped up to start the day with foil, good team effort, finally winning the weapon 45-30. Next came Sabre, a bit of kit swapping between Steph and me as we only took one set with us, and Pip's chance to join in as this was what she travelled so far to do. Eventually winning the weapon 45-41. Finally Epee, we thought this was going to be a bit difficult as Southampton had been talking themselves up all afternoon about being good at this weapon, we still held our own, Steph, Ruth and I managing to get 38 points to Southampton's 45.
Final score, 128-116 win to us, not a bad day considering how long we had now been awake for. Bus journey home was fun, managed to talk Steph into thinking Reload was a good idea, especially as we were in matching outfits, finally arrived back in Aber at 11.15pm, just the right time to walk straight into the union. Considering the weather you wouldn't stand outside for too long, at points on the journey home I thought we weren't going to make it as the road resembled a river.
All the girls were amazing, not many people enjoy sitting on a coach for so long, and Pip only fenced for about 2 minutes in total.
Georgie Leach
| Aberystwyth Women's 1st | vs. | Plymouth |
| 135 | 50 |
Slightly bad start to the day on the fencing front as I woke up to be told that my match was at 12.30pm not the usual timetabled 2pm, mass panic followed as I realised that apart from two of us that I knew do nothing on Wednesday all the other girls would be in their lectures until 2pm so I wouldn’t have a team, great way to start being captain. Then, to my amazement, a phone call from Gav telling me that Plymouth had only brought 3 girls with them and that one had come down with severe food poisoning at the hotel overnight. I was told to go and meet them anyway at 12.30 as the two girls who were fit and healthy still wanted to fence as they had come such a long way. Hectic phone call to Steph later, and a text to the rest of the team telling them the match was cancelled, I was up at the sports cage being told by one of the girls dads who had brought them that we could fence 2 vs. 2 instead.
A mad rush to the kit cupboard followed, piste set up in record time, pure panic on my part that I was about to be fencing all 3 weapons! A usual match followed, apart from only fencing to 20 points in each weapon, and Steph and I managed to beat them 54-50.
Bid Plymouth farewell as they really wanted to hit the road with the ill girl who had been asleep across the back seats of their car all afternoon, and went off to find Gav and Abby to try and explain to them what had happened with the match and why the score was so small.
Many trips to see Abby, and phone calls to BUCS later, we have been awarded the score of 135-50 as BUCS claim that Plymouth forfeited all their points by not having a full team, or something along those lines, I don’t think any of us will ever understand. I am also still receiving emails arguing this score so may possibly still have it changed.
Big thanks go to Steph for this match, not only did she fence well, but managed to keep me sane in my state of mass panic.
Georgie Leach
| Cardiff | vs. | Aberystwyth Mens 1st |
| 135 | 99 |
After waiting for Maddox to wake up and get on the bus we set off (rather late) for the second leg of the Men's 1A League Welsh derby.
Unfortunately the Aber team was severely short on numbers due to course commitments so we were forced to adapt accordingly.
We fenced the weapons in a slightly unusual order, the sabreurs stepping up first. We appeared outclassed from the start and it soon became apparent that our winning streak in sabre was about to be broken. Maddox, Billy and Killion did manage to fence the majority of the bouts on their own terms but Cardiff were able to adapt and penetrate with well-timed counter attacks. Killion was left with a lot of work to do in the final bout and it was to prove too much. Cardiff won sabre 45-38.
Next up was epee and our steady progress in the weapon throughout the season appeared to continue. Marc began by fencing the Cardiff closer, a Belgian international with a frustrating left handed pommel style, and fresh from his strong performance against Plymouth he pulled out a 5-2 victory. Marc's patience and ability to act upon advice deserves a special mention yet again. Pete and Maddox also began strongly, but unfortunately the loss of seven hits in Maddox's final bout would prove decisive.
Cardiff took epee 45-40.
Our foil squad was to suffer most from missing fencers. Maddox was brought in to fill the gap and did, where possible, fulfil his role of being awkward and forceful on piste. Cardiff's Miguel Pinto and James Thorneycroft were, however, not easily pressurised and fenced on their own terms. Marc and Pete tried to pick off points where possible but victory in the weapon quickly moved out of reach. Cardiff won foil 45-21.
A big thank you to Cardiff for their hospitality and well done to Maddox for fencing all three weapons.
Man of the Match - Marc (For consistency and patience)
Donkey of the Day - Maddox (For poor time keeping, forgetting his breeches and pulling a muscle through failure to warm up!)
Pete Bond
| Aberystwyth Men's 1st | vs. | Plymouth |
| 134 | 107 |
Man of the match - Marc
After a night of excessive alcohol consumption with the Plymouth team in all of the finest licensed premises in town we met to defend the many past Aber victories.
Though in foil we were individually inconsistent we were collectively successful. Ben had us off to a good start which Captain Pete was unfortunately unable to follow. However, after gaining 10 points difference over his next two bouts, Pete was clearly back on form. Dan began well, and although there was a brief waiver in the middle, he came back to finish his foil strongly. Ben was continuing to fence well but did find the opponents closer to be a little awkward, but the earlier
collective efforts enabled us to hold a 44-34 victory in foil.
The sabreurs were clearly the ones suffering the most from an excess of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll...though Token was more likely suffering from a lack of the first.
The spanner in the works was the Plymouth captain who was too quick for everyone on the day. However, Killion and Maddox were able to sap points out of other areas in order to keep us in the game. Token was a little off-form on the day, but this allowed Billy to come in and take a plus 8 indicator in one bout. A tense last fight saw Killion just holding on to our lead, allowing us to retain our clean sheet in the weapon. We took sabre 45-43.
Epee was cause for much rejoicing as we were able to win the weapon for the first time this season! Pete, Dan and Marc were patient, powerful and precise with their attacks and counters and this lead to some storming shots. A special mention must be given for Marc's fantastic consistency in epee, managing to keep his head throughout. It was simple task for Pete to see out the weapon and the match, doing so in style with a beautiful foot hit to close epee 45-30.
An excellent effort and a well deserved win.
Pete Bond
| Exeter | vs. | Aberystwyth Men's 1st |
| 133 | 101 |
After an eventful five hour journey, involving two rather soft front tyres
on the minibus and two gallons of Token's vomit off the minibus, we
arrived at Exeter Uni.
We started the match with sabre, and although everyone was a little tired
from the journey we were able to keep our 100 percent victory in the
weapon and take a three point lead. Killion, Tom Maddox and Token all
fenced well and we were happy with the start.
We had kidnapped Simon Williams from the clutches of the 2nd team to fill
an unexpected gap in the 1st team foil squad. His efforts, along with
those of Dan and Captain Pete, were noble but unequal to the talents of
the Exeter foilists.
The points lost in foil were all but impossible to regain, and although
Tom, Dan and Pete pushed for a dramatic come back in epee (and it was
probably our strongest performance this season in the weapon), we lost
epee 45-36.
Final score: Aberystwyth Men's 1sts 101 - Exeter 133
Pete Bond
| Aberystwyth Men's 1st | vs. | Cardiff |
A large home crowd gathered to support the Aber boys during the Welsh
titan clash in the dance hall. Fresh from their 135-107 victory over
Exeter, the Cardiff team were always going to be strong favourites in this match.
Ben Vermiere's outstanding foil performance however, combined with a
superbly composed effort from Dan McNabb and a confident use of time from Captain Pete Bond, led Aberystwyth to victory over their experienced opponents in the first weapon. Aberystwyth took foil 45-42.
In sabre there was an initial tussle for the lead, Killion McKenzie
getting the boys off to a strong start before the Cardiff closer promptly snatched the advantage from Adam Tew. However, later bouts were to make up for this and although Tom Maddox had an uncharacteristic waver in his second fight, substitute Billy Mitchell snatched back the lead with a 6-2 victory, leaving the two remaining bouts to be soundly closed by Tom and Killion. In all, a valiant effort from Aber's sabreurs stretched the team's lead to seven points, with Aberystwyth winning the second weapon 45-41.
Alas, our downfall was yet again to be epee and unfortunately this time our lead would be just too small a cushion to protect us from the
oppositions' well-drilled swordsmen. After dropping the lead Marc Walford,
Pete and Dan were forced to fence outside their comfort zones, having to use a more offensive approach than usual with few opportunities to execute their more typical counter-attack or riposte regimes. Although the gap would fluctuate we struggled to restrain the other side from advancing their lead, eventually Cardiff won epee 45-31.
The final score: Aberystwyth Men's 1st 121 - Cardiff 128
Man of the match: Ben Vermiere
Pete Bond
| Plymouth | vs. | Aberystwyth Mens 1st |
| 112 | 115 |
Much grumbling and yawning ensued from our extremely rude awakening, an early start that had us leaving Aber by 6am on the long journey down to Plymouth. Expectations were high as previous 1st teams had retained a 5 year undefeated record against the south-west coast institution, a profile which debutant captain Pete Bond did not want to see destroyed.
6 minibus hours, 2 drivers and seven McDonald's breakfasts later we arrived in Plymouth and scouted out the venue. There was a brief meet and greet with the opposition before we began with foil.
Marc and Dan's early defensive consistency allowed us to edge a lead, and although the off-form captain was unable to mirror these strong performances the team retained an advantage. Pete's unexpected 1-4 defeat caused the gap to decrease but when Dan launched a fantastically belligerent offensive against a very competent Plymouth foilist, it was only a case of holding time to seal the weapon.
Aberystwyth took foil 43-34.
Sabre was a similarly successful affair, despite the slow start our dominance in the weapon was soon made clear. 1st team veteran Tom Maddox made up for an early lapse of concentration by hammering his final two opponents. Billy Mitchell's BUCS debut showed real promise and highlighted his ability to learn quickly from mistakes, refusing to get caught twice in the same place and identifying weaknesses in his opponents. Killion began consistent and strong but alas a little uninspiring, until of course it came to closing the match wherein his game raised to dizzying heights, Plymouth's strongest sabreur proving no match for McKenzie.
Aberystwyth took sabre 45/33.
The final weapon would prove less of a cause for celebration, expectedly so as Plymouth were about to unleash a top 30 ranking epeeist. The team did what needed to be done however, with valiant efforts from Tom, Pete and Charlie Barratt allowing the team to get the necessary points to win the match!
Aberystwyth lost epee 27-45.
The final score: Aberystwyth Men's 1st 115 - Plymouth 112
Man of the match - Dan McNabb
Pete Bond