Lacrosse mid-Season round-up
Mersey and Stockport head hunt for Premier Division crown
- but is the title race wide open? Neil Goulding has a look
at the mid-season runners and riders?
HEATON Mersey are setting the pace at the top of the North
of England League Premier Division - and that's been the story
for most of this season. The Oakley Villas team are certainly
rejuvenated this term, if not just playing with plenty of
passion and desire to win the domestic crown which has eluded
them for some time.
Nick Gilmore and James Gallagher, the promising England players,
seem to have taken on this year's shared captaincy with few
complications. And while former skipper Richard Smith and
many other experienced players are still strutting their stuff
at the club - Steve Morley and Mike Orme spring to mind -
there will never be a shortage of knowledge and advice on
offer if the youngsters need it.
But one of the big differences this season has to be the
impact made by the Beadle brothers, John and Matt, and Thomas
Gallagher, who have all joined from Cheadle Hulme after the
Ladybridge outfit disbanded from the top flight for pastures
new in Division 3. It must have been hard for all three players
to leave a club they have shown plenty of loyalty to for over
the years, but the intention to win honours is looking more
and more like a real achievement as each league game slips
by with another victory.
And Mersey will also fancy their chances of success in the
Daily Telegraph Senior Flags, which has already resulted in
the surprise scalp of Wilmslow by Premier Division strugglers
Rochdale. The Lancastrians - who have lost ten of their 11
league matches this season - defeated their Cheshire opponents
12-11 in an real tussle at Styal Road and now have to look
forward to a clash with Mersey in the quarter-finals stages.
Who knows whether another upset is on the cards, for 'anything
can happen' in the cup (well....Flags)!
Stockport, under the guidance of new captains Paul Fullerton
and Chris Bland, have also shown signs of being worthy of
being crowned the champions since winning a league and cup
double in the 1999-2000 season. But Mersey would have to slip
up for the Beech Road club to leapfrog them having already
gained a significant advantage at the summit.
One thing's for sure, this season's title-chase is shaping
up to be the best in years after Cheadle, the holders, have
left themselves a mountain to climb if they are going to win
the crown for a second year on the bounce.
That leaves fellow high-fliers Manchester Waconians, Timperley
and Mellor, last season's beaten Flags finalists, also still
in with a shout at the title if luck goes their way. I think
we have got a lot to look forward too in the coming year.
Stockport A continue to show their dominance in Division
2. The team remain unbeaten in 14 outings - 13 wins and one
draw - and are red-hot favourites to win the title, while
in Division 3 Ashton-under-Lyne and Cheadle Hulme are joint
top in what promises to be a closely-fought battle for silverware.
Cheadle Hulme's decision may also bear fruition - good luck
to Guy Lansbury and all at the club who have battled well
in the face of adversity.
Brooklands Hulmeians Extra A and the club's B team are leading
the way in Division 4 and 5 respectively.
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