Hornets and Ravens completed unbeaten Southern Box Lacrosse (SBL) Winter Box League seasons with victories in the respective men’s and women’s finals to lift their first titles at the Oxford Academy 3G Dome on Sunday.
Hornets defeated Steelheads 8-4 in the men’s final to go four games without defeat in this year’s competition and showed their intent early in the game pulling three goals ahead in the first quarter.
They never looked back from there, allowing Steelheads very little in the way of goal-mouth action while being clinical in front of goal themselves.
Braces from Ming Trinh, Ollie Allsop, and Ryan Martin saw Hornets over the line to follow up their 2024 Northern Box Lacrosse League title with a first Winter Box League trophy.
In the women’s final, Ravens took on Jaguars after the latter had overcome reigning champions Blaze 6-4 in the play-in game earlier in the day.
A tight first three quarters that saw Ravens 7-5 up going into the final 15 minutes was followed by a more expansive attacking display from the competition’s form team.
A brace each from Torz Anderson and Anna Neville in that final quarter with just a one goal reply from Jaguars saw Ravens secure an 11-5 victory, a fifth successive win, and a first Winter Box League title.
Elsewhere, Capitals claimed third spot in the men’s competition after a tight bronze medal match ended in penalties leaving two-time Winter Box League champions Knights rock bottom in this year’s competition.
Watch all the action from SBL’s 2024/25 Winter Box League on the Lacrosse Live UK YouTube channel HERE.
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Men’s Final | Hornets 8-4 Steelheads (3-0, 2-1, 1-1, 2-2)
Hornets scorers | Ming Trinh (3G, 1A), Ryan Martin (2G, 1A), Ollie Allsop (1G, 1A), Alfie Lee (1G), Ollie Lee (1G), Jacob Brindle (1A), Taylor Harrison (1A).
Steelheads scorers | Ben Buchanan (2G, 1A), Patrick Kearney (2G), Paul Milner (1A), Billy Rawlins (1A), Andy Thomas (1A).
Women’s Final | Ravens 11-5 Jaguars (2-2, 3-1, 2-2, 4-1)
Ravens scorers | Torz Anderson (4G), Georgie Greenwood (2G, 1A), Anna Neville (2G, 1A), Laura Beaman (1G), Katie Greenwood (1G), Claudia Lane (1G), Lucy Mayers (1A).
Jaguars scorers | Alex Drewe (2G), Darcey Bance (1G), Rosie Bathurst (1G), Amy Bolton (1A), Annabelle Akintoye (OG, 1G).
Men’s 3rd Place | Knights 8-8 Capitals (3-3, 2-2, 2-2, 1-1. Capitals win 3-2 on penalties)
Knights scorers | Nathan Edwards (2G, 2A), Albert Whitehead (2G, 1A), Harry Edwards (1G), Kyle MacQueen (1G), Will Walker (2G).
Capitals scorers | Connor MacDougall (2G, 2A), Dave Groves (2G), Jack O’Mahoney (1G, 1A), Cam Major (1G, 1A), Robertson (1G), Ben Wilson (1G).
Women’s Play-in | Jaguars 6-4 Blaze (3-2, 3-2)
Jaguars scorers | Rosie Bathurst (2G), Alex Drewe (2G), Ellie Racle (1G), Zara Russell (1G).
Blaze scorers | Lucy Ford (2G), Izzy Keane (1G, 1A), Emma Savage (1G).
Final Placings
Men’s
Hornets
Steelheads
Capitals
Knights
Women’s
Ravens
Jaguars
Blaze
Top Points Scorers
Alex Drewe | 22 (19G, 3A)
Torz Anderson | 18 (15G, 3A)
Ollie Allsop | 15 (13G, 2A)
Ben Buchanan | 14 (11G, 3A)
Ming Trinh | 14 (11G, 3A)
Andy Thomas | 13 (9G, 4A)
Izzy Keane | 11 (8G, 3A)
Will Walker | 10 (7G, 3A)
Albert Whitehead | 10 (7G, 3A)
Claudia Lane | 8 (7G, 1A)