King's claims first London Varsity Series win

Reggie the Lion, mascot of King's, enjoys a friendly rivalery with UCL mascot Phineas during the 2016 London Varisty Series

There was a first triumph for King’s College London as it emerged as the winner in the London Varsity Series against cross-town neighbours University College London [UCL] on Friday 11th March.

Supporters had to wait until the final evening in the week-long series to claim the London Varsity Series trophy for the first time, as success and momentum swung back and forth between the univerisites.

The rivalry with UCL, which has been long-standing within the university rugby teams annual Varsity match, is now in its third year as a multi-sport series that pits both university (KCL) and School of Medical Education (GKT) men’s and women’s teams against their fellow UCL competitors.

Organised and run by KCLSU in tandem with UCL’s student’s union, UCLU, the London Varsity Series started with 7 sports in 2014, with the format expanding year-on-year to include 15 different sports in 2016.

Beginning on Friday 4th March with the hockey match at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the opener served up two finely balanced encounters, with both institutions sharing the points one apiece as KCLHC [King’s College London Hockey Club] Women’s 1st XI defeated UCL 2-1 before UCL reversed the score in the corresponding men’s fixture.

Points would continue to be traded in the overall classification on Saturday. In the Great Hall on the Strand Campus it was thrust and counter-thrust as King’s took the women’s fencing match, whilst UCL prevailed in the equivalent men’s fixture. An identical outcome in the water polo saw points shared equally.

Victories in the swimming gala and tennis would then give a brief two point lead to UCL – ultimately the only such occasion in the series – before Saturday evening focused the interest back once more back to Stratford’s Olympic Park and the Medical Schools hockey match between GKT and RUMS. Under the lights it was GKT who succeeded in leveling the series at the close of play on the second day.

GKT clash with RUMS in the Medic's Women's Hockey Varsity

Super Sunday

On Sunday 6th March action remained focused in the East End as badminton, basketball, netball, medical schools’ netball and volleyball were all scheduled in a busy day of competition at the University of East London’s Sports Dock.

Here, within a stone’s throw of City Airport, it was King’s fortunes that began to take off as KCL and GKT teams won a startling seven out of the eight matches that day. Indeed as ‘Super Sunday’ came to a close the results gave King’s College London a 12-6 lead in the series – barely two points away from the threshold 14 points required to cement overall victory.

UCL Come Back

Come Monday however, and as the London Varsity Series entered into its second week, momentum swung once more as UCL mounted a remarkable comeback. Early on UCL narrowed the margin with victories in both the men’s and women’s football matches. This was followed by further wins for the teams in UCL purple in the men’s lacrosse, Ultimate Frisbee and rowing – the latter two, new events in 2016. Only a solitary win in the women’s lacrosse game gave KCL supporters something to cheer for as King’s lead was cut to 13-11.

KCL Men's eight (right) are held by UCL on the finish line in the Rowing Varsity

UCL’s victory in the Taekwondo on Thursday evening then ensured that the spoils would not be claimed until the last possible day, and the final two matches.

The Finale

And so to Allianz Park, home of professional Aviva Premiership rugby team Saracens, which come Friday evening was sea of red and purple as over 2000 students made their way to the north London stadium to watch the old rivals do battle in the ‘original’ Varsity Series event – rugby.

There was no air of certainty about the result. Despite needing only one point to clinch the series King’s College London teams had surrendered 6 out of 7 points on offer since Sunday’s haul at the University of East London.

For all this, optimism endured: “If Leo can win the Oscar – KCLWRFC [King’s College London Women’s Rugby Football Club] can win Varsity” prophesized one supporter’s banner, in reference to recent trophies awarded further afield.

It would prove a fortuitous prediction. 

From kick-off KCLWFC began building an early lead. A first try within seven minutes. A further 24 points added to before half-time. Ultimately the match would finish KCLWRFC 48 – UCL 0, with King’s women’s rugby team putting the snub of two consecutive Varsity defeats behind them to secure two firsts: a varsity win against UCL and the London Varsity Series for King’s College London.

KCLWRFC celebrate after scoring against UCL

With the overall victory completed, one match remained however. As has been the trend over the past two seasons the men's Varsity rugby match served up a tense and close affair.

In the final act of an already nail-biting series KCLRFC [King’s College London Rugby Football Club] were able to secure a late breakaway try from an interception and seal the match 14-11 in favour of KCL, ensuring one final round of cheers from the supporters and players who departed Allianz Park celebrating the arrival of the London Varsity Series trophy and certain bragging rights for the next twelve months.

Congratulations to all students from both institutions who took part. Thank you to the team at KCLSU for organising and running a highly successful 2016 Varsity edition. Commiserations to UCL – but we look forward to seeing you back out there in 2017!