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Sun 22 Nov 2015
Boys U146 a side Cup
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U14 boys retain2015 6 a side Junior Challenge cup
Mellor Lacrosse Club22 Nov 2015 - 17:42
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tournament report by Dominic Macdonald
MELLOR U14’s 6-ASIDE TOURNAMENT 22-11-15
Dominic Macdonald
On a bitterly cold Sunday Mellor hosted the U14 6 aside tournament which they won in swirling snow last January. The weather was kinder this time around but only just.
Mellor fielded two teams and both got off to winning starts. However, the B team, deprived of the cutting edge of Mellor’s regular 11 aside team, soon fell behind to the better teams in the tournament. Possession wasn’t a problem but converting it into goals proved to be tricky and despite a brave fight they didn’t make it through to the latter stages.
Mellor A fielded their strongest available team and made a very good start against Poynton winning 15-1. Mellor were a pleasure to watch. They moved the ball around quickly and unselfishly, functioning as a team going forward and tracking back. Dan Jones and Joe Hussey were particularly lethal in front of goal and Drew Bickerton offered himself up in some great positions all over the pitch, scoring plenty himself. However, Nick Hughes was the real revelation in this game. His long pole defence was fast and accurate, plucking balls out of the air and particularly in gathering up ground balls. All over the pitch Mellor worked hard for each other and imposed themselves physically on the game. They beat Rochdale 10 – 0 in their next game and looked to be sailing through the tournament.
The Cheadle game was tougher and Mellor let a decent lead slip away. However, they always looked they would have another gear if required and they ran out 5-4 winners. Wilmslow were the next team to face Mellor and they too looked a little bewildered at the pace and accuracy of Mellor’s game. Ben Mochan and Drew Bickerton got more game time here and neither let the side down. Mellor were very worthy 12-1 winners.
The semi-finals beckoned and Mellor hoped that they would not meet their arch rivals Stockport/Norbury. That was the final everyone was hoping for. The draw was kind and it gave Mellor a semi against their old rivals Timperley. This was a very satisfying game. Mellor bossed it from the start with Josh Poke running the midfield, putting in a lot of unselfish running and passing. Timperley weren’t push overs but Will Macdonald had all the angles covered and deserved his second lock-out of the tournament. Mellor finished the game 8 – 0 winners. The news from the other semi was that Stockport/Norbury had beaten Cheadle Hulme and Mellor got ready for the big one.
However, there was late drama when after a delay while the referees convened it emerged that Stockport/Norbury had fielded an illegible player and were disqualified from the final. Although this robbed Mellor of the chance to test themselves against the best opponents on the day it didn’t affect the boy’s attitude towards the final. Mellor lined up against Cheadle Hulme having played fast flowing, unselfish lacrosse all day. They didn’t ease up at all. Cheadle Hulme were hit with a whirlwind of clever pacey lacrosse. Each player was aware of the others around him. The passing from goalie to midfield to attack was accurate and lightening quick. Cheadle Hulme tried to play a disciplined game but Mellor simply overwhelmed them. The final score was 11-2 to Mellor.
After a couple of disappointing league games recently it was a real joy to see Mellor romp home to win the U14 6 a side Junior Challenge cup – as they did in January. Once again they raised the bar and threw the gauntlet down to the other teams in the area. No doubt the rivalry between Stockport/Norbury and Mellor will produce great games in the future but today was Mellor’s day and deservedly so.
Man of the tournament – Nick Hughes
Dominic Macdonald
On a bitterly cold Sunday Mellor hosted the U14 6 aside tournament which they won in swirling snow last January. The weather was kinder this time around but only just.
Mellor fielded two teams and both got off to winning starts. However, the B team, deprived of the cutting edge of Mellor’s regular 11 aside team, soon fell behind to the better teams in the tournament. Possession wasn’t a problem but converting it into goals proved to be tricky and despite a brave fight they didn’t make it through to the latter stages.
Mellor A fielded their strongest available team and made a very good start against Poynton winning 15-1. Mellor were a pleasure to watch. They moved the ball around quickly and unselfishly, functioning as a team going forward and tracking back. Dan Jones and Joe Hussey were particularly lethal in front of goal and Drew Bickerton offered himself up in some great positions all over the pitch, scoring plenty himself. However, Nick Hughes was the real revelation in this game. His long pole defence was fast and accurate, plucking balls out of the air and particularly in gathering up ground balls. All over the pitch Mellor worked hard for each other and imposed themselves physically on the game. They beat Rochdale 10 – 0 in their next game and looked to be sailing through the tournament.
The Cheadle game was tougher and Mellor let a decent lead slip away. However, they always looked they would have another gear if required and they ran out 5-4 winners. Wilmslow were the next team to face Mellor and they too looked a little bewildered at the pace and accuracy of Mellor’s game. Ben Mochan and Drew Bickerton got more game time here and neither let the side down. Mellor were very worthy 12-1 winners.
The semi-finals beckoned and Mellor hoped that they would not meet their arch rivals Stockport/Norbury. That was the final everyone was hoping for. The draw was kind and it gave Mellor a semi against their old rivals Timperley. This was a very satisfying game. Mellor bossed it from the start with Josh Poke running the midfield, putting in a lot of unselfish running and passing. Timperley weren’t push overs but Will Macdonald had all the angles covered and deserved his second lock-out of the tournament. Mellor finished the game 8 – 0 winners. The news from the other semi was that Stockport/Norbury had beaten Cheadle Hulme and Mellor got ready for the big one.
However, there was late drama when after a delay while the referees convened it emerged that Stockport/Norbury had fielded an illegible player and were disqualified from the final. Although this robbed Mellor of the chance to test themselves against the best opponents on the day it didn’t affect the boy’s attitude towards the final. Mellor lined up against Cheadle Hulme having played fast flowing, unselfish lacrosse all day. They didn’t ease up at all. Cheadle Hulme were hit with a whirlwind of clever pacey lacrosse. Each player was aware of the others around him. The passing from goalie to midfield to attack was accurate and lightening quick. Cheadle Hulme tried to play a disciplined game but Mellor simply overwhelmed them. The final score was 11-2 to Mellor.
After a couple of disappointing league games recently it was a real joy to see Mellor romp home to win the U14 6 a side Junior Challenge cup – as they did in January. Once again they raised the bar and threw the gauntlet down to the other teams in the area. No doubt the rivalry between Stockport/Norbury and Mellor will produce great games in the future but today was Mellor’s day and deservedly so.
Man of the tournament – Nick Hughes
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