Lacrosse Fixtures & Previews 'Season 2004-2005'
25/6 AUSSIE SHOWDOWN AWAITS ENGLAND
England looking to bounce back after opening defeat...
By Neil Goulding in Annapolis
ENGLAND head coach Lois Richardson is backing her ambitious
team to bounce back from defeat in their opening match of
the Women's World Championship here tomorrow (Saturday).
The national side were beaten 13-5 by hosts and defending
champions United States in their first outing at the Glenn
Warner Soccer Stadium, but will be in action at the same venue
again (2pm) against Australia.
Richardson and her charges are looking for their first win
as they aim to improve on the bronze medal they won at the
2001 Championship in High Wycombe.
"We were nervous against America, but it's good to have
got the first game out of the way. I know we can perform better
that we did against the US, especially now the girls have
settled into playing at the venue," said Richardson.
England scored five times against the US and for two thirds
of the second half kept the five-times champions at bay and
denied them the chance to find the back of the net.
"We found our feet in the second half and our defence
stepped up," added Richardson.
"That was very pleasing and something we will look to
build on ahead of the Australia match.
"We scored some good goals as well, so we know we are
capable of beating good sides.
"Australia are a tough side and we know they will be
tough to beat, but our girls will want to bounce back from
our defeat and get a win under our belts."
Indeed, and with no injury-worries from their meeting with
the US, England are at full-strength for their clash with
the Aussies.
"There's only a few knocks and bruises, so the girls
will be ready for our Australia match. Everyone is looking
forward. It would be nice to get a win on the board, especially
for the fans."
STEELERS TO MEET ROCHDALE IN PREMIER DIVISION
PLAY-OFF
SHEFFIELD Steelers are one victory away from playing in
the Premier Division.
The Abbeydale Park Sports Club thumped Sheffield University
21-7 in this weekend's crunch derby clash to secure third
position in the Men's North of England League Division Two.
Now the South Yorkshire promotion-chasers meet Rochdale,
on Saturday, knowing a win would see them playing against
the North's elite next season.
"Everyone at the club is looking forward to the match,"
revealed Steelers spokesman Paul Coups.
"We didn't have enough strength in depth, but this season
we've blooded a lot of youngsters and it has worked for the
club.
"Those players will improve even more if we manage to
get in the Premier Division.
"We turned down a chance to go in the Premier Division
a few seasons ago, but now we're ready!"
Indeed, and it showed on Saturday as the Steelers' youthful
side dominated against the city's students.
Midfielder Martin Garner led the way with six goals and attacker
Ian Warwick bagged five as the Steelers led 6-1, 10-4 and
14-6.
Promising midfielder Sam Noble added a brace and experienced
campaigner Mark Coups weighed in with 11 assists as the home
side cruised to victory.
"We played very well," added Coups. "We just
wanted to score as many goals as we could, but the result
was the most important thing.
"Rochdale are a good side, but we've got nothing to
lose. The pressure is on Rochdale to perform because they
are a Premier Division team."
Division Two champions Stockport A and runners-up Cheadle
A cannot move up a division because the club currently have
teams which play in the top flight, so the Steelers may not
have a better opportunity to make a jump in divisions.
ROCHDALE RELISH STEELERS SHOWDOWN
ROCHDALE, rooted to bottom of the table, meet Sheffield
Steelers on Saturday desperate for Premier Division survival.
The Redbrook side have won twice this season in 18 domestic
outings, but victory over the Steelers would guarantee a spot
in the top flight next term.
But defeat for Rochdale would see them drop to Division Two
of the Men's North of England League, somewhere captain Danny
Ayrton doesn't want to go.
"We're confident we can beat Sheffield," said Ayrton,
despite seeing his side slip to a 15-9 loss away to Cheadle
on Saturday in the Premier Division.
"All the players are up for it! We all definitely want
to stay in the Premier Division next season.
"It's not been the best of seasons, but one victory would
see us safe."
Indeed, and scoring nine goals against former double winners
Cheadle is a big boost for the Lancashire side.
Midfielder Neil Marshall top-scored with four goals, while
Craig Nichol (2), James Ayrton (2) and former skipper Nick
Nugent were also on target.
"Sheffield will want to win, so it will be a tough match,"
added Ayrton.
"We'll need to play well, but I'm confident we will win."
Sheffield Steelers spokesman Paul Coups revealed that "everyone
at the club is looking forward to the match".
He said: "Rochdale are a good side, but we've got nothing
to lose. The pressure is on Rochdale to perform because they
are a Premier Division team."
STOCKPORT AND MERSEY RELISHING FLAGS BATTLE
STOCKPORT aim to make history this weekend by winning the
Daily Telegraph Senior Flags crown for a second successive
season - and at the same time secure an impressive title double.
The Beech Road club are just one win away from winning their
second honours of the season having won the Men's North of
England League Premier Division last week.
It was the Cheshire club's first domestic title since 1999
and victory over Heaton Mersey on Sunday in the Flags final
at Bridgefold Road, Rochdale, would crown a memorable season.
The past 30 years have seen Cheadle dominate the tournament
having appeared in no fewer than 17 finals, having won 14
of them.
But Mersey, who lost to Stockport in last year's showcase
final, will be no pushovers in a season which has yet to yield
any silverware for the Lancashire club.
Mersey bravely battled back to nearly taste victory last
term, but Stockport clung on to triumph 14-13 in overtime
having led 6-0.
However, having beaten Cheadle and Mellor in the quarter-finals
and semi-finals respectively this year, Mersey co-captain
Nick Gilmore is rightly confident of his side's chances of
success.
"We're looking for revenge after last year's defeat,"
said Gilmore, who is hoping to be selected for England's 2006
World Cup team. "Everyone looks forward to a Flags final.
It's the FA Cup of lacrosse.
"We left it too late to win last year, but we've got
a strategy this year which will hopefully stop that happening.
"We've probably had the hardest run to the final having
beaten Cheadle and Mellor, so it would be nice to finish off
our run with another victory. We are the underdogs, but we
don't mind that."
Mersey have been boosted the by the return of attacker Matt
Beadle, absent for much of this season with a back-injury,
but in fine form against Stockport in the league this term
when the two sides drew.
Stockport, like Mersey, are at full-strength with influential
midfielder David Bryant set to play having missed games this
season.
"We've played well in the league but you can't take away
the draw of the Flags," said Paul Fullerton, the Stockport
co-captain.
"It's such a special competition and everyone wants to
play in it - and win it. Hopefully the experience of winning
last year will help us settle this year.
"Mersey are a good side and historically we always have
good games with them. I'm sure it's going to be no different
this year."
Mersey last won the Flags in 2002 when they beat Stockport
14-13, also in overtime, at Georges Road, Sale.
Stockport have shown better form in the Premier Division
this season, but they can't afford to take anything for granted
against a club who themselves have won the title three times
and appeared in the final six times since 1975.
Incredibly Mersey, last year’s Premier Division winners,
appeared in four back-to-back finals between 1997 and 2000,
but lost all of them.
Stockport have won the Flags five times in the last 30 years
and been losing finalists on three occasions, while the two
teams meet for the fourth time since 1991. Stockport lead
2-1 on head-to-heads.
Meanwhile, there are no fewer than nine other finals, junior
and senior, over the course of the 'Festival' weekend in Lancashire,
as well as an Under-11s Tournament which gets proceedings
underway on Saturday morning.
The Junior Flags is the highlight of Saturday's programme,
with the Daily Telegraph Senior Flags the final match of the
weekend on Sunday afternoon.
DAILY TELEGRAPH Flags Festival Weekend Schedule (Bridgefold
Road, Rochdale) - Saturday 9 April - 9.30: Under-11
Boys Tournament; 10.00: Boys U12 Plate final - Timperley v
Norbury; 10.00: Boys U14 Centurion final - Mellor v Rochdale;
11.30: Nigel Wayne Trophy final - Heaton Mersey C v Wilmslow
A; 11.30: David Beesley Cup final - Cheadle B v Manchester
Waconians B; 2.30: Junior Flags final - Stockport A v Oldham.
Sunday 10 April - 9.30: Boys U16 Junior &
Schools final - Stockport v Heaton Mersey; 9.30: Boys U12
Onondaga Cup final - Sheffield Steelers v Mellor; 11.00: Lancashire
Cup final - Rochdale v Timperley; 12.00: Stockport Cup final
- Ashton-under-Lyne v Mellor A; 2.30: Daily Telegraph Senior
Flags final - Stockport v Heaton Mersey.
STEELERS AND NOTTINGHAM EYE PREMIER DIVISION
PROMOTION
SHEFFIELD Steelers need to win their end of season derby
clash with Sheffield University to stand any chance of being
promoted to the Premier Division.
The South Yorkshire club are level on points with Nottingham
in Division 2 of the Men's North of England League.
Nottingham also have one game left, ironically against Sheffield
University, but if both teams win then goal difference will
decide their respective fates.
If Sheffield do win and Nottingham slip up, then the Abbeydale
Sports Club side will play either Rochdale or Wilmslow for
the right to play in the Premier Division next term, with
a provisional play-off tie scheduled for the weekend of 23/24
April
"We've got to win our last game against Sheffield University,
but it's important we score as many goals as we can,"
said Paul Coups, the Steelers spokesman.
"It's been a really tight season, which I predicted,
but two more wins could see us playing in the Premier Division
next season.
"Nottingham are a good side but hopefully we can pip
them to the play-off place. It's going to be a tough game
whoever we play providing we qualify for the play-off game,
but we're confident of our chances."
The Steelers have struggled in recent weeks and missed out
on a place in the Junior Flags final having been beaten finalists
last term.
But Coups believes everything that has happened this season
must be forgotten about, instead the Steelers must concentrate
on winning two more matches to achieve their Premier Division
dream.
"It's going down to the wire, but it's great for lacrosse,"
added Coups. "It's better for everyone when it's close.
I think players respond better to pressure, so we might see
the best of our team and how much they have learned this season."
- Despite no senior Steelers' sides having won honours this
term, there is chance for the club's Under-12s to scoop honours
at the Flags Festival in Rochdale this weekend.
The talented young guns play Mellor in the Onondaga Cup final
at Bridgefold Road confident of victory.
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