Southampton travel to Cirencester on Sunday for their second Group C match in the South West Lacrosse Association (SWLA) Invitational Cup with both teams looking for a first win of the tournament.
In the first round of fixtures on 6 October, Southampton fell to a 13-4 home defeat to current Group C leaders Bristol Bombers while Cirencester are yet to make their debut in this year’s competition following an opening day BYE.
Southampton come into the game knowing that nothing but a win is good enough to finish in first or second place in the group and progress to the Championship Points Stage and the business end of the competition.
With Bristol Bombers on their BYE week, a win could see Southampton go top of the group but, because of their BYE in the next round of fixtures, a defeat would see them fall into the 7th-9th bracket where they would play a round robin competition with other third place group finishers to decide final placings.
Similarly, Cirencester have the chance to top the group with a win over Southampton in their first 2024/25 Invitational Cup match, provided they can win by nine or more goals.
The Gloucestershire club head into this game off the back of four consecutive defeats in the SWLA Premier Division: 17-1 and 11-3 against Cheltenham, 13-2 against Bristol Bombers, and 14-10 against Bath.
Over recent years, Cirencester have very much been a team in the ascendency which reached unprecedented heights in 2023 with a first Bath Eights title.
And, earlier this year, their goalie Sophia Chan represented Hong Kong, China at the 2024 World Lacrosse U20 Women’s Championship, making six appearances and helping her team to a 16th-place finish.
Cirencester take on Southampton in the SWLA Invitational Cup Group C at Cirencester RFC on Sunday 10 November at 1pm.
SWLA Invitational Cup Fixtures (all 10 November)
Group A
Cardiff Harlequins v Birmingham
Group B
St Mary’s Calne v Cardiff LC
Group C
Cirencester v Southampton