By Neil Goulding (English Lacrosse Press Officer, 07813 859986)
 
 
THE first honours of the season will be contested on Sunday when Cheadle and Stockport clash in the 2009 Referee's Trophy final.
 
Cheadle, last season's North of England League Premier Division and Northern Senior Flags, take on their arch-rivals at Wilmslow Lacrosse Club (2pm)
 
Stockport, the defending champions, finished second in the Premier Division last season and have started this term brightly with three wins in success matches, while Cheadle are also unbeaten in three matches but were held to a 9-9 draw by Heaton Mersey having led 8-2. Their only minor blip so far.
 
"That won't happen again," stressed Pete Condron, the Cheadle co-coach. "There have been some harsh words at the club after that performance.
 
"We shot ourselves in the foot against Mersey. We were well ahead and should have won that game.
 
"We need to pull our act together because that wasn't very Cheadle-like, but on saying that we've certainly got the raw talent to be successful again this season.
 
"Even Manchester United don't win every game!" he added with a wry smile.
 
But both sides face a slightly unusual test at the weekend with the game having been switched to astro-turf at the Styal Road ground.
 
And Crondon is honest enough to admit that he doesn't believe the competition holds as much prestige as it once did.
 
"It's another trophy, but it's not as important as the Flags or the league," added Condron.
 
"Of course we'd like to win, but to honest it's a bit of nuisance game for us. We've got a game on Saturday and then we've got to play on Sunday as well. That's tough for any team,
 
"It's [the match] on astro-turf, which is a bit different, but it doesn't mean much to be honest.
 
"But we'll support the referees because they play an important role in our game. Whoever Stockport put out it will be a good game."
 
Stockport are again without the suspended Singleton brothers, Joe and Nathan, but Condron expects a tough test by Stockport.
 
"You can through their whole side and see that they've got class players. Fully [Paul Fullerton] and Blandy [Chris Bland] are two class players, they hold the side together from what I can see.
 
"And there's young Tom Gosnay, he's a great talent. To be honest they've got a great squad, it's something you can usually say about Stockport.
 
"But it's about what we do and how we perform. Nobody likes losing, so we'll be up for it [the match]!"
 
This year's competition will be preceded by a Lancashire versus Cheshire Under-17s contest at 12noon.
 
Note to editors - for more information on English Lacrosse visit www.englishlacrosse.co.uk
 
Also why not visit the official Manchester 2010 World Cup site as the excitement builds ahead of next year's tournament www.2010worldlacrosse.com
 
And our social networking sites - www.twitter.com/2010_lacrosse, www.2010worldlacrosse.blogspot.com and http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6380164361&ref=ts
 
To contact English Lacrosse - The Belle Vue Centre, Pink Bank Lane, Longsight, Manchester, M12 5GL. Tel: 0161 227 3626 Fax 0161 953 2459 Email: info@englishlacrosse.co.uk
 

 
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