European glory was made in Macclesfield
MACCLESFIELD had a key role to play as England claimed their first ever major tournament title after defeating rivals Germany 11-8 in the 2022 European Box Lacrosse Championship final.
Prolific goal-scorers throughout the tournament Elliot Leonard and Matt Marsh bagged themselves a hat-trick each in a tight and tense game at the Eisarena in Hannover, Germany.
It was a win very much made in Macclesfield, with coach Andy Downing and his squad training out of Macclesfield Rugby Club in preparation for the tournament. Andy has been growing the game in Macclesfield for the last six months and has big plans for developing the game.
“England Box Lacrosse have been training at Macclesfield Rugby Club for the past few months in build up to their euros,” he said.
“The senior men’s team have also been accompanied by the new 6’s Olympic discipline team - British Lacrosse. The 6’s squad completed a summer tour of the States ending in a valid 4th place at the Birmingham, Alabama World Games.
“These elite athletes will continue to train at the club as we aim to build our new base here and call Macc our home.”
The final was always going to be a close affair with the nature of England and Germany’s rivalry, Germany playing on home turf, and two top quality teams out of the floor and it was England who started the brighter and found themselves one goal to the good after just 45 seconds when Leonard expertly rolled a Germany defender, dived across the crease and scored.
Despite the powerful start from England, Germany worked their way back into the game, showing their quality, but unable to find the finish until nearly seven minutes in when Justin Wismer ran around the back of the England goal and equalised, seemingly taking goalie Cameron Macleod by surprise.
England continued to play their game and found themselves ahead through Leonard once again who fired one in from 10 yards after being played in by Ben Buchanan.
In games as close and as tight as this one, a two goal lead can be huge and that’s exactly where England found themselves when playing a man up with only a couple of minutes left in the first quarter.
Bunio was able to receive the ball in front of goal, evade two Germany defenders and slot home from just outside the crease to ensure England went into the second quarter 3-1 up.
England were able to really stamp their authority early in the second quarter despite another Wismer goal to cut their lead to one goal as Dan Watson first squeezed one past the Germany goalie before Marsh scored his first with an emphatic high to low finish.
But such is the frenetic nature of box lacrosse that Germany were able to score three without reply at the back end of the quarter to see the sides go in at half-time with the scores perfectly poised at 5-5.
Head Coach, Walt Christianson, impressed upon his team throughout the tournament to remain calm and keep playing their game no matter what and this really paid dividends in the third quarter as England came out after the break and scored three in quick succession.
First, Leonard completed his hat-trick after some lovely movement around the Germany defence, before Tyson Roe drew a defender out of position, allowing Marsh to hit his second from range.
Then, Roe finally got in on the action himself using his strength and speed to blow away two Germany defenders and the deft flick of the wrist to finish was straight out of the top drawer!
Despite England being the dominant force in the third quarter, Germany were not without danger as was proved when they clawed a goal back with England a man down.
But England weren’t phased by this and, with Marsh eyeing up a hattrick, they always looked dangerous on the attack.
And with five to go before quarter time, Marsh scored his third to complete his hat-trick after some lovely work around the crease from Watson and Bunio allowed the England attacker shoot.
England’s job was made slightly harder just before the end of the third quarter when Dan Watson was ejected from the game for committing a major foul on a Germany defender leaving England without one of their start attackers for the final 15 minutes.
Despite the set-back with Watson, England came out for the fourth and final quarter with determination to hold onto their lead and replied to Germany’s seventh through Leonhard Nöring with two goals to effectively put the game to bed.
Bunio was able to squeeze a shot past the goalie as he was falling to the ground just outside the crease before Groves the space to hit one for the cameras as he received a pass, ran at goal, jumped across the crease and finished with aplomb!
A late Germany goal wasn’t enough to galvanise a true comeback from the opposition and England held on for the win and their first ever major tournament title in the box lacrosse format. ●●DOMESTIC Coach Andy has been working with local secondary schools to build the profile of lacrosse in the area and has more planned for Macclesfield. Should you wish to try lacrosse then please get in touch and you’d be more then welcome to attend one of the free taster sessions. Email northernboxlacrosse@ gmail.com