Reviews
Wycliffe ‘B’ v. Lea R.C
Posting identical times at National Schools’ Regatta, Wycliffe B and Lea RC on paper look like a fierce match up, and that it was. Wycliffe pulled slightly off the start but Lea responded immediately not being left behind and remaining in contact, dropping Wycliffe’s confidence about this race being a row-over and forcing them to continually match Lea’s advances down the straight. Lea tried many a move to grasp back a few seats but Wycliffe held off all challenges, maintaining their three quarter length lead. With the rain starting to pour and the wind picking up, Lea responded back to the conditions causing them to gain a few seconds back on the struggling Wycliffe crew. Lea surged at the start of the enclosure, reducing their lead to half a length, taunting them to respond. With the pressure of the ‘A’ boat already making the semi, Wycliffe ‘B’ made a move of their own and extended their lead to one length and crossed the line with slight overlap back to the Lea crew.
E.L Crossley Sch, CAN v. Marlow R.C
It was a Canadian attack off the start with E.L Crossley steaming away and pulling nearly a length out of Marlow on the first handful of strokes. It looked set at the Island with Crossley pulling away in a fierce display of skill and strength, Marlow seemed to have dropped off the pace with a messy start and a few blades slightly caught up in the puddles of previous strokes. But that all changed at the Barrier. Marlow got it back in fantastic style and drew together to dispatch the Canadians pulling away and by Remenham had achieved a length lead in a true switcheroo. E.L Crossley appeared to have given it too much too soon, tiring and, even with raised rate, dropped back to give Marlow their ticket to the semi-finals and a two and a half length lead.
Previews
Wycliffe College ‘A’ v Wycliffe College ‘B‘
A guaranteed spot in the final for Wycliffe showcases their domination of junior women’s sculling, even more so at the pinnacle of the season. Wycliffe ‘A’ have left everyone in their wake so far, sporting the same crew since the beginning of the season and featuring finalists from the crew last year- this quad look set to win with a sizable margin. However, the depth of the squad extends to small boats- a Henley Women’s win in the single and a semi-final in the doubles, combined with the determination to overthrow the A boat could provide some exceptional racing. It is Wycliffe A’s race to lose, but Wycliffe B should work them hard, if they are to play a fair game of course.
Marlow R.C v Molesey Boat Club
The British silver medallists (Marlow) meet the reigning champions (Tideway Sculling School TSS) in their showdown to reach the final in now an all British event. These crews have been pushing each other all season with Marlow in the A final at NSR and TSS in the B, it is all to play for. Marlow displayed real mental strength in their race today, being able to push past a not so great start and row through an international crew to claim their victory. Whilst Tideway Scullers shot off the start to dominate their race against the prequalified Molesey crew. After that impressive display today, I don’t think I could bet against Tideway Scullers even if they were beaten by Marlow at NSR, they could overturn this result for their ticket to the final.
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