Great result for BAL team
Saturday 3 July 2010
Cardiff's BAL team again finished second behind Sheffield today, thus consolidating second place overall in their division.
Cardiff are now 4 points ahead of third placed Blackheath, with two rounds to go.
The match result was:
1. Sheffield (389 points); 2. Cardiff (305); 3. Blackheath (263); 4. Gateshead (260); 5. Trafford (259); 6. Liverpool (248); 7. Kent (241); 8. Basingstoke (238).
The league position after two rounds is:
1. Sheffield (16 points); 2. Cardiff (14); 3. Blackheath (10); 4. Liverpool (8); 5. Kent (8); 6. Gateshead (8); 7. Trafford (5); 8. Basingstoke (3).
Cardiff's individual event winners were: Rhys Knapman (200m B); Gareth Warburton (400m A); Joe Thomas (800m A); Chris Discombe (3000m s/c A); James Mills (5000m A); Tom Marshall (5000m B); Dave Coleman (Shot Put A).
There was a welcome return from Matt Ledger who competed in no less than five events (110mH B; Hammer B; Javelin A; Long Jump A; Triple Jump A).
Also notable was Gareth Warburton's win in the 400m (47.79) only two days after setting a personal best for the 800m and ducking under 1:47 for the first time with a victory in Slovenia over an international field in 1:46.61. This time places Gareth second behind Michael Rimmer in the UK rankings.
The importance of Matt Ledger's contribution is underlined by the scores. Cardiff's track athletes dominated the fixture, scoring a total of 213 points whereas the field events struggled and totalled only 92 points. A comparison of track against field scores is illuminating and shows where Cardiff needs to be stronger if it were to gain promotion to the premiership division.
Track Scores (inc relays): 1.Cardiff (213); 2. Sheffield (187); 3. Trafford (167); 4. Blackheath (149); 5. Bromsgrove (141); 6. Kent (133); 7. Gateshead (125); 8. Liverpool (124).
Field Event Scores: 1.Sheffield (202); 2. Gateshead (135); 3. Liverpool (124); 4. Blackheath (114); 5. Kent (108); 6. Bromsgrove (97); 7=. Cardiff (92) & Trafford (92).
To view the full results, click on RESULTS.
It is also interesting that the two teams promoted last season from the National 2 Division (Cardiff and Blackheath) are both doing well this year whereas Trafford (relegated from the premiership) looks to be heading for a further relegation this year. Sheffield, also relegated from the premiership, is set to make an immediate return to the top flight of club athletics in the UK.
Will Cardiff join them?
The third round match will take place on 31 July at Blackheath.