The North and South Flags festivals both make their anticipated return this weekend with the top honours being contested for the first time since 2019.

The annual finals represent the culmination of the knockout competitions for both the North and South of England men’s leagues, with multiple finals taking place across both junior and senior age group competitions.

The North Flags finals return to Rochdale Lacrosse Club this weekend with a massive 13 finals taking place across the two days.

In the North Senior Flags final, there will be a new winner for the first time since 2015 after Poynton, winners every year from 2016-2019, were beaten by Heaton Mersey at the semi-final stage.

It will also be the first final since 2010 without Cheadle, who were runners-up in each of the last four finals, as Stockport make their first final since 2014 following a 9-7 win against Brooklands.

The two historic clubs have storied pasts in the Senior Flags - Stockport, the most successful club in its history winning 25 titles, with the first win coming all the way back in 1896, while Heaton Mersey first won the competition in 1927, though they did contest the very first final back in 1884; both clubs will now be looking to add their name to the record books once again in 2022.

The North Flags finals also adds two women’s matches to the weekend schedule this year, with a Senior Women’s final between Oxton and Stockport, and an Under 15s contest, this time Brooklands taking on Oxton.

North Flags finals is a ticketed event with entry payable at the gate on arrival.

The South Flags finals meanwhile head to a new venue for 2022; Horsham Football Club hosting the three finals across a packed day of action.

The South Senior Flags final features two now well-established rivals, Hampstead and Spencer, going toe-to-toe yet again in what should be another fascinating final with stacks of international talent across the sides.

Hampstead have won the last two Senior Flags, including the last running in 2019 where they beat Spencer by a single goal and Hampstead are 2-1 up in matches between the sides this year.

However, Spencer ended Hampstead’s five-year dominance of the SEMLA Premier Division to be crowned this year’s league champions and will be gunning to complete the double on Saturday.

In addition to the Flags finals, there will be an open pick-up game at the start of the day, and an Under 12s exhibition game before the Senior Flags, celebrating the best of lacrosse across all levels in the South of England.

SEMLA have also produced an online event programme which can be viewed HERE. This year’s South Flags will be a free event with all welcome to attend.

The full schedule for both Flags finals is listed below:

South Flags Finals - 23 April - Horsham Football Club

12pm - Minor Flags - Nuneaton v University of London
2pm - Intermediate Flags - Spencer 2 v London Purley Raptors
5pm - Senior Flags - Hampstead v Spencer

North Flags Finals - Sat 23 April - Rochdale Lacrosse Club

10am - U12 Boys Plate - Cheadle Hulme v Poynton
11am - U16 Boys Plate - Cheadle/Norbury v Brooklands/Rochdale
12pm - U14 Centurion Cup - Cheadle v Mellor
1pm - David Beesley Cup - Poynton A v Rochdale
2pm - Nigel Wayne Cup - Borders v Newcastle
3pm - Junior Flags - Norbury v Cheadle A

North Flags Finals - Sun 24 April - Rochdale Lacrosse Club

9.30am - U14 Boys Plate - Sheffield v Timperley
10am - U15 Girls Cup - Brooklands v Oxton
11.30am - U16 Juniors & Schools Cup - Mellor v Stockport
12pm - Lancashire Cup - Boardman & Eccles A v Heaton Mersey B
1.30pm - Women’s Flags - Oxton v Stockport
2pm - U12 Onondaga Cup - Mellor v Heaton Mersey
3.30pm - Senior Flags - Heaton Mersey v Stockport