U12s at Home to Heaton Mersey

It appeared that the rain was going to fall this morning, to make the game a little difficult to play in, and terribly difficult for my photographer.  Due to the worsening conditions, the referee changed the game to 10 minute quarters, so no sooner had we started a quarter, the whistle was being blown for the end of the quarter.
With an ever improving line-up, Stockport raced to a 6-0 Q1 lead, and with 3 of our squad on the sideline (feeling the cold conditions) 'The Coach' started to make changes throughout Q2, bringing off players to allow everyone the game time necessary to improve for this season and beyond.  Q2 was a 1-1 quarter, Q3 a 3-1 quarter, and Q4 was an even quarter at 2-2, so overall a victory to Stockport 12-4 over Mersey.
12 goals today, 6 different scorers, Rhys (3), Ben (2), William (3), Jay, Hugo (2) and Cameron, and 7 goals assisted.

Hugo, balancing the size difference

Using his pace to go right past his marker

Pearls of wisdom from under the Umbrella

Too much distant to catch him

Excellent distribution

Pressure

Will B continuing to work hard at face

Not like our keeper to go for a run

Great Check

Dean in possession

Hugo soaking up the pressure

2 More Goals from Ben today

Luca working hard for the team

U12s Quarter Final Against Timperley B

In our first game against 'Timperley B' of the season, we didn't quite know what to expect.  Commendable that Timperley have the numbers to produce two teams, but do they have the quality in depth? 
Unfortunately, or fortunately, all the quality on show was from Stockport, who raced to a comfortable 28-0 victory with good flowing lacrosse.  We had a strong starting line-up, and we found ourselves 9-0 up at the end of Q1, 6 more in Q2, 7 more in Q3, and finished off with a 6 in the final quarter.  Even when we swapped things around, resting All of the senior players, we were still able to control the flow of the game.  Lots of different options tried, with 6 different people at face, 9 different scorers, and 11 goals ably assisted.  With Stockport, Mellor, Cheadle and Timperley 'A' all progressing to the next round we shall have to see what the draw brings for us.  Can we make that final in April?
Todays scorers, were Will B, Jacob B (5), Rhys (4), Aaron (Goalkeeper), Ben, William (5), Hugo (4), Luca and Cameron (6).  Perhaps showing how one sided this game was, our keeper only had to make 1 save (which nobody can remember).

Perspective.  This is how the keeper seen most of the game

Dominant with the Ball

Will with one of his five

2nd goal of the season from Luca, Today 

Only 6 today

Indra controlling the ball

Jacob moving the ball well

Under Instruction 'Too Keep Warm'

Alfie enjoying the competition
Even had a few goes at face today

Lost his man

Battling and winning the ground balls

Moving the ball

Great Accurate Shooting Today

Jacob - Ever Improving

Keep on Running

Breaking Free

Ground Ball

Cool as Always

U12s at Home to Cheadle Hulme

On a cold dismal January day, what better way to spend the morning than watching a group of young uns, running around in the mud, with sticks.  Brilliant!  With Cheadle Hulme's inexperience team, turning out, it was great to see them actually attain the magic number of 10 participants to have a 10-a-side game.  The game was played in the right spirit, with our 'Coach' taking the opportunity to engage our own inexperienced players in the game, providing the opportunity for Alfie, Thurston, Ethan all too have a good amount of game time. 
From a playing perspective, Stockport raced to a 5-0 Q1, lead, and were 3 more goals to the good before Cheadle Hulme managed to pull one back, leaving is 8-1 at the end of Q2.  Did we take our foot off the gas in Q3? With the 'Free Clear' being preferred we seen less of the ball in Q3, giving our visitors a 2-4 quarter before returning to normal order in Q4, with a 5-1 quarter in Stockport's favour. 
Did we over play today?  Did we try to over pass, when in a good shooting position?  Could some of our missed shots have been better placed?  Although we won the game, it wasn't all one-sided, but it did feel like we had other gears to move up to if needed.
A fantastic 7 scorers on today's scoresheet, with Ethan scoring his first goal of the season, accompanied by Will B, Jacob B, Rhys (4), Ben, William (3), and Cameron (4).  7 of the 15 scored were assisted by Rhys, William, Indra and Cameron.
Weather permitting, we play in the second round of the Onundaga this weekend!

The ever improving Indra, working it out at Face

Cameron controlling the oppositions advances

Rhys being chased by 'A Lady'

Close attention being paid to William

But they are keeping Ben at a distance

Our keeper loving the Attention

Will B controlling matters!
Look at the young uns practising on the sidelines!

Head down, about to fly

Rhys drawing them in and the releasing the ball

Ethan and Ben working the attack

Not today!

Rhys sending CH defence the wrong way

And finally I never knew William was a contortionist?

U12s away at Norbury

It was a welcome return to lacrosse on Saturday for the first match of 2017. We fielded a near full-strength team and were up against a squad who had beaten us comfortably earlier in the season. Both coaching teams were working hard all through the game to try and wrestle then maintain some momentum and they were as involved as the players.

In the words of Team Manager Lawrie:

“It was a close start to the game with both teams playing well and countering each others attacks in the 1st 5 minutes.   Stockport playing some excellent Lacrosse in the latter part of the 1st quarter got into their stride and finished the Q 6-0 ahead.

3 quick goals in the 2nd Q brought Norbury back in the game as we shuffled the pack to get players on.

It was a good game with both teams using their strengths. Norbury 1 player running through and scoring and whilst the defence tried to stop him playing 6 man zone and man on man didn't always succeed.

We scored some good team  goals with us dominating the midfield, however on a heavy pitch the lads tired.

Overall a good close exciting and entertaining game with the draw being the fairest outcome with neither of the teams deserving to lose.”

Q scores: 0-6, 5-3, 4-3, 4-1.  Final score 13-13.

Scorers.

Cameron 7

Hugo 3

Rhys 3.

7 assisted goals Cam 3 Rhys 2 Hugo 1 Will H  1

A big thanks to stand-in goalkeeper Jacob who made 5 saves.

The murky conditions made any photography a challenge so well done to Rick Bradbury for taking these snaps:

It's a race

Hugo trying to find a way through the defence

Looking for the pass

Does he know you're there Will?

This pose also works well for cricket

A well organised defence

but you can say the same for the opposition

Get the ball

watch that number 13, he's quick

Rhys fighting for the ground ball

Rhys is ready but can Cam get the pass to him

A face off that went the wrong way

The player is moving faster than the ball, how did that happen

Jacob trying to find a way out of defence, Dave offering some advice