Phoenix win first silverware
Girls triumph at South West Schools tournament
PHOENIX Lacrosse Club bagged their first tournament silverware at the South West Schools Tournament at St Swithuns’ School on Saturday, October 1.
In March 2022 Phoenix Lacrosse Club launched to bring competitive lacrosse to girls across the district.
And in just its first half season the club has welcomed 53 permanent members, who have taken part in 309 training sessions, totalling more than 450 hours in just three months.
Now, the club have their hands on their first silverware having won the First Division South West Schools tournament in the most dramatic of circumstances.
The team arrived at the competition full of confidence having finished third in the Berkshire Schools Competition, but were without a goalkeeper, a predic
ament that would cause many sides to lose hope.
But not Phoenix, whose outfield players took turns in goal as the girls performed brilliantly throughout eight epic matches and progressed all the way to the final.
The final was a nail-biting affair and with nothing to separate the two teams, it would need a moment of magic.
As the field horn sounded and the referee put his whistle to his lips to blow for full time, Phoenix produced exactly that, scoring a golden goal to win the tournament with seconds remaining.
Cue the celebrations as captain Gemma Moon stepped up to collect the winners’ trophy.
Lacrosse is a sport that requires considerable technical skill – something the Phoenix girls have in abundance – but it was the team’s attitude, spirit and togetherness that helped them overcome the adverse circumstances and earn them the winner’s title.
Club chairman Alan Moon said: “It’s great the team have had some early successes.
“Our seniors are improving all the time, some of them are training three times a week.
“The club is continuing to grow and we’re aiming to end the season with 100 members. It makes me wonder what else we’ll win this season.”