Lacrosse exceeds growth predictions
An emerging sport in the Waikato is working towards establishing its first home ground as demand exceeds forecast growth in the region.
A total of eight teams from Waikato and Auckland contested the National Secondary Schools Lacrosse Finals held at Cambridge High School over the weekend.
In the end it was Cambridge High School which defeated Epsom Girls’ Grammer School in the final 7-3 on Sunday. Mt Albert Grammer School defeated Hillcrest High School, 10-7, to settle third and fourth place.
Other Waikato teams at the nationals included Sacred Heart Girls’ College and St Peter’s School.
Dean Forman is coach of the Cambridge team but works throughout the Waikato to promote lacrosse. He said the weekend tournament demonstrated how well players had developed their skill level in recent years.
‘‘We’ve been spellbound by actually how far all of the players in the region have come,’’ Forman said.
‘‘In terms of our five-year plan to develop the sport in the Waikato, we’ve actually blown it out of the water in the first year and a half.’’
Forman played and coached the sport in Auckland before coming down to the Waikato with partner Ursula Johnson with the view to develop lacrosse, initially in secondary schools.
‘‘For us to go to the next level, we need our own home facility, home ground.’’