Mellor retain Bath Eights
MELLOR, who play in the Men's North of England League Premier
Division, have retained the Bath Eights title they won so
handsomely last year.
Ben McAllister's team defeated Manchester Waconians 3-0 in
this year's final at the Recreation Ground, edging 30 teams
overall to the first honours of the domestic season, in this,
the 20th anniversary of the competition.
McAllister's men overcame a series of tough contests, but
beat Brooklands Hulmeians 5-4 in the quarter-finals and Rochdale
4-2 in the semi-finals.
Two goals from 17-year-old attacker Ollie Hall and a goal
from midfielder Andy Etherington then secured a welcome win
over Wacs in this year's showcase final.
"It's a special feeling to have won the competition in
successive seasons," said McAllister.
"Hopefully that will set us up for a good season in
the league."
Goalkeeper McAllister, who is hoping to secure a place on
the England team destined for the World Championships in London,
Ontario, next year, also paid special praise to his side's
young guns.
Eddie Dolan, 16, an "emerging star" in McAllister's
eyes, James Mearns and Hall all starred for Mellor, performances
recognised by their captain.
"We had a young side and it was good to see them do well,"
added McAllister, known affectionately by his team-mates as
Big Mac.
"A lot of the young players have been involved with the
England Academy side and played a lot of tour games, so there
was not much rustiness, which helped.
"We played better as the tournament went on. Our toughest
match was against Brooklands (Hulmeians) in the quarter-finals.
We were 5-1 up but they came back to 5-4.
"We ran the clock down though, but they did have a chance
to level towards the end of the game."
McAllister was pleased with the way his side dug deep to beat
Rochdale in the semis, before triumph came against Wacs.
He added: "We controlled the final and played clinically,
which was very pleasing.
"We were 1-0 up at half-time and then made sure of the
title with two good goals in the second half."
However, Wacs will have their chance for revenge on Wednesday
night when the two sides lock horns in a pre-season friendly
at Marple Hall School, 7.15 pm start.
The match is being used as another warm-up before the Men's
North of England League Premier Division, and all other divisions,
start on September 24.
- This year's Bath Eights tournament also saw the introduction
of two new teams.
New this year were southern teams Swindon and Welwyn, further
evidence of the growth of the game in the South.
The strength, however, is still firmly with the Manchester
clubs, with all the quarter finalists coming from the area.
Another first for the tournament saw the first Slovakian referee,
Barbara Zelenay.
This year the ELA also used the tournament as it's contribution
the 'Year of the Volunteer' and a special presentation was
given to John Harrop for 20 years of running the tournament.
"It was quite a surprise when I was given the award,"
said a delighted Harrop, the Bath secretary and tournament
organiser.
"It's very pleasing to get recognised for my work. I've
been involved with lacrosse for over 40 years and it's great
to see the game doing so well.
"The Bath Eights tournament started as a daft idea, but
the competition has grown and grown.
"We started with ten teams and now there's 31, so it
just proves how popular the tournament has become."
Weekend Results
SATURDAY, Bath Eights Tournament - Final: Mellor 3 Manchester
Waconians 0; Semi-finals: Mellor 4 Rochdale 2; Manchester
Waconians 6 Heaton Mersey 2; Quarter-finals: Heaton Mersey
4 Stockport 0; Manchester Waconians 5 Wilmslow 2; Rochdale
4 Norbury 1; Mellor 5 Brooklands Hulmeians 4.
SUNDAY, Mixed Tournament - Final: Gin &
Juice 6 Northern Monkeys 5 (after sudden death); Semi-finals:
Gin & Juice 7 Cardiff 5, Bath Exiles 3 Northern Monkeys
5; Quarter-finals: Gin & Juice 5 Reading 4, Bath University
2 Cardiff 4, Bath Exiles 3 Bath City 1, Penarth 2 Northern
Monkeys 4.
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