Wilmslow to make history
| Published: 14th May 2008 17:25 |
WILMSLOW are gunning to make history this weekend by winning an unprecedented quadruple title-haul - a feat never before achieved in lacrosse.
By Neil Goulding
The Styal Road club have had a season to savour by winning the Men's North of England League Premier League and Northern Senior Flags titles.
And on Saturday they will lock horns with Hampstead - the South of England Premier League and Southern Senior Flags winners - to contest the Iroquois Cup and Wilkinson Sword titles in an eagerly-anticipated end-of-season double-header, with both honours up for grabs to the victor.
The match will be played at Warwick University, a neutral venue (2pm face), as agreed by both teams to split the travelling equally.
Wilmslow pipped Stockport, last season champions, to the Northern Premier Division title this term, the first Premier Division crown in the club's history.
And more success followed when the Cheshire outfit made sure of a dream domestic double by winning the Northern Senior Flags final with victory over Mellor.
Hampstead, too, have been in excellent form this season, form which saw them win the South of England League Premier Division without losing a game, which they then followed with the Southern Senior Flags.
In the league the Crowthorne Road club finished five points clear of closest rivals and former dominant force Purley, before beating the same team 13-5 to claim their double.
The Iroquois Cup, which first came to prominence in 1896, was designed to be awarded for the "The Champion Lacrosse Club of England". The Northern and Southern Senior Flags winners annually contest the title.
Meanwhile, the Wilkinson Sword was introduced for the Northern and Southern Premier League winners to battle it out at the end of the season to see who is the best team in the country.
This year it just so happens that Wilmslow and Hampstead will play each other for both titles, with the chance of a memorable quadruple up for grabs.
"I don't think any team has ever won a quadruple," reflected Wilmslow skipper Mark Reynolds. "It would be great if we could win another two titles.
"Winning the league and Senior Flags in the same season was a dream come true, but this really would be the icing on the cake if we could win the Wilkinson Sword and Iroquois Cup.
"There's been a north-south divide for a while now, so Hampstead will want to turn us over, and of course we want to beat them."
In seasons gone by both competitions have lost their significance, but Reynolds is keen for that to change going forward.
"The importance of both titles seems to have diminished, but it would be nice if that changes. They're good titles to win," added Reynolds.
"We're going into the game wanting to win. Hampstead are putting a decent side together for the game, so hopefully it's a good contest."
Wilmslow will be without attackers Ashley Tarran-Jones and James Perrin, as well as defenders Jon Kenney and Andy Edleston, although Reynolds (who is nursing a hip injury), is confident his side can make history.
"It would be a great achievement if we could win four titles this season, it would be great for the club."
At the time of going to press Hampstead's team selection was not known.
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