Purley take their chances to oust Hampstead

THE crowd were not treated to the display of free scoring, spectacular lacrosse they might have expected from a Senior Flags Final, but they were none the less given a tense, thrilling contest, reflecting the two league games played between the teams this season.

 

Purley were missing players due to work commitments, so they elected to play short-handed, using the same 12 who had convincingly beaten Bath the week before. The first quarter set a pattern that was to persist through the next two. Both sides were guilty of turning over the ball far too easily, which helped keep the score low, and until late in the game never more than a single goal would separate the sides. Hampstead’s game plan revolved around one-on-one isolations, but too many times they also tried to dodge the sliding defender, for the most part allowing Purley to deal with this threat. Purley in contrast tried to use ball movement to open up the Hampstead longsticks, but while the perimeter passing was slick the off-ball movement that had been so effective all year was sadly lacking.

 

Purley scored first through Jesse O’Hanley, but fell behind and would not lead again until the fourth quarter.

Hampstead’s first goal came from a defensive mix-up. Purley lost the ball on their own manup and failed to register that the penalty was up.

 

The Hampstead man stepped out of the penalty box unmarked, setting up an easy fast break that Mike Noonan duly converted. Hampstead then took the lead on another fast break, this time by Dave Leach. Paul Terry made the initial save, but the ball rebounded to Leach; with Terry out of position all Leach had to do was pick the ball up and put it in the empty net. At quarter time it was 2–1 to Hampstead.

 

In the second quarter Purley managed to get some periods of sustained possession but managed only a single goal, scored when Mike Barrett fed Jamie Tasko, who was sneaking onto the crease from behind goal. But they also kept Hampstead out at the other end, bringing the score to 2–2 at the half.

 

Hampstead scored early in the second half to restore their lead, but Purley responded swiftly with a goal from Mike Barrett. Hampstead then scored again in transition, Purley eventually replying through Jamie Tasko.

 

With the score at 4–4 there was everything to play for in the final quarter. Purley again started with periods of controlled possession, but in contrast to the previous quarters they were ominously now starting to move off the ball. They created a couple of good chances before a sweet feed from behind found Mike Barrett with some space and time up top, Barrett sticking the shot in low to give Purley a crucial lead.

 

The Hampstead attack caused Purley a couple of nervous moments before Purley doubled their advantage. This time Mike Barrett fed the ball cross field to Graeme Holland on the left wing; before Hampstead keeper John Shea had set himself

Holland had drilled the ball past his hip.

 

Hampstead then had a period of sustained pressure, resulting in a couple of man-ups, but they missed these vital opportunities to get back in the game as the Purley defence held. And with Hampstead now having to pressure the ball Purley used the extra space well: two more goals from Graeme Holland gave Purley a comfortable cushion and a perhaps flattering final score of 8–4.

 

Intermediate

Grinstead shoot down the Hawks

East Grinstead won their second Flags final in as many years, beating Swansea 12–6 in a replay of last year’s Minor Flags final.

 

Swansea got off to the brighter start, putting early pressure on the Grinstead defence and stealing a one-goal lead. But Grinstead quickly found their feet and began to play their usual game, attacking with pinpoint passing and wellpracticed plays. Their offence proved too hot to handle for the ‘best defence in the West’; EG split the Hawks open, firing five goals in before the quarter time whistle.

 

The support that had travelled up with Grinstead helped to fire them up for the second quarter, and the men in silver and black picked up where they had left off. Chris White and Jimmy Bennett added to their tallies from the first quarter, and with just a single late reply, Swansea snatching a goal with an outside shot, the half ended 10–2.

 

The third quarter was a slow affair, Swansea starting to work their way through the shock of the first half and careless technical fouls limiting Grinstead’s offensive opportunities. Grinstead added just one goal, and it looked like the game was petering out.

 

To their credit Swansea didn’t give up, and their persistence paid off as they at last began to play their game. Putting Grinstead on the back foot, they scored the game’s last four goals, achieving respectability in a 12–6 final scoreline.

 

Minor

UWIC too strong

 

UWIC took the lead in the Minor final just a couple of minutes into their game with East

Coast, and never looked back. Although East Coast found success in their extra man situations, they couldn’t match UWIC’s direct style of play when the sides were at even strength.

 

Scoring quick goals from the face-off and attacking early and often allowed UWIC to keep East Coast out of the early parts of the game and build an 8–2 lead at the half. After the break East Coast got an early goal and there were signs that they could stage a fightback, but a quick break from the ensuing face-off kept them at bay. By the final quarter the game had died a little as a spectacle. In the end UWIC were good value for their 18–6 win.

 

Midlands

Loughborough win

Loughborough capped a fine season by defeating the Birmingham Bulls 13–4 in the Midlands final. Although Birmingham managed to keep up with their opponents in the first half, trading goals through the first quarter and keeping the margin at the half to two, a seven-goal run from Loughborough in the third effectively broke their resistance.