By Neil Goulding (English Lacrosse Press Officer, 07813 859986)
STOCKPORT are the team to beat in the Men's North of England League Premier Division.
The Beech Road club proved too strong for former league winners Wilmslow on Saturday with an impressive 14-6 victory.
And last year's Premier Division and Northern Senior Flags runners-up then capped a memorable weekend by winning the Referee's Trophy with an 11-8 win over arch-rivals Cheadle.
Former England international midfielder Chris Bland top-scored with five goals for Stockport in their win, while current England international Tom Gosnay scored four as Stockport pulled away in the final quarter after Wilmslow had put up a spirited fight.
James Morris scored twice, while Paul Fullerton, Steve Howe and Richard Wilson all scored in Stockport's win. Fullerton also had two assists, Howe one assist and Simon McGuigan also weighed in with an assist in a fine team performance.
Chris Mountney, another former England international, was Wilmslow's best player with three goals and two assists, but the hosts were always behind in the contest.
Stockport won the opening quarter 3-1 and led 6-4 at half-time, before winning the third quarter 4-2 for a welcome four-goal lead.
Wilmslow had no reply in the final quarter and Stockport ran away with it by four goals to nil.
Attacker Tom Brookes, Tommy Foster and John Mountney all scored a goal each for Wilmslow and Mark Reynolds contributed two assists, but their efforts couldn't prevent Stockport from extending their impressive four-game winning run to the new season.
Cheadle, the defending Premier Division champions, leapfrogged Wilmslow into second spot after they crushed struggling Mellor 17-6 at home.
Heaton Mersey are third after they dug deep to beat Manchester Waconians 9-6.
Rochdale pipped Timperley 10-9 for their first win of the season, while Sheffield Steelers and Brooklands Hulmeians shared an exciting 11-11 draw.
Latest standings:
|
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Points |
|
Stockport |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
24 |
26 |
8 |
|
Cheadle |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
52 |
33 |
19 |
7 |
|
Heaton Mersey |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
45 |
30 |
15 |
6 |
|
Wilmslow |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
43 |
41 |
2 |
5 |
|
Manchester Wacs |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
35 |
36 |
-1 |
4 |
|
Brooklands |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
43 |
42 |
1 |
3 |
|
Rochdale |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
35 |
48 |
-13 |
2 |
|
Timperley |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
30 |
45 |
-15 |
2 |
|
Mellor |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
32 |
51 |
-19 |
2 |
|
Sheffield Steelers |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
30 |
45 |
-15 |
1 |
Northern results, Sunday 18th October
Men's Northern Referee's Trophy - Final: Stockport 11 Cheadle 8
Boy's Under-17s Challenge match: Lancashire 11 Cheshire 7
Saturday 17th October
Women's North of England Premier League: Timperley A 5 Wilmslow 0 (conceded), Liverpool 4 Heaton Mersey 15, Mellor 5 Birmingham 8, Timperley B 6 Wirral 18. Postponed: Leeds v Sheffield Steelers.
Men's North of England League - Premier Division: Cheadle 17 Mellor 6, Timperley 9 Rochdale 10, Sheffield Steelers 11 Brooklands Hulmeians 11, Manchester Waconians 6 Heaton Mersey 9, Wilmslow 6 Stockport 14.
Division 2: Heaton Mersey A 10 Norbury 5, Stockport A 9 Boardman and Eccles 8, Ashton-under-Lyne 10 Timperley A 7, Sheffield University 10 Nottingham 5, Poynton 9 Cheadle A 11.
Division 3: Cheadle B 5 Manchester Waconians A 16, Heaton Mersey B 10 Sheffield Steelers A 14, Rochdale A 1 Wilmslow A 0 (conceded), Mellor A 13 Oldham 7, Brooklands Hulmeians A 7 Stockport B 16.
Division 4: Brooklands Hulmeians Extra A 23 Poynton A 0, Liverpool 11 Cheadle Hulme 11, Boardman and Eccles A 8 Manchester Waconians B 0, Norbury A 5 Leeds 6, Mellor B 7 Stopfordians 17.
Division 5a: Norbury B 13 Ashton-under-Lyne A 7, Hull 3 Newcastle 15, Timperley B 7 Brooklands Hulmeians B 3.
Division 5b: York University 7 Timperley C 3, Oldham A 8 Heaton Mersey C 8, Heaton Mersey Guild 1 Birmingham 0 (conceded)
Note to editors - for more information on English Lacrosse visit www.englishlacrosse.co.uk
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