Match Focus | Oxford University Blues v Bristol Bombers | EL Mixed Leagues

On Sunday, in the fifth round of fixtures in the England Lacrosse Mixed Lacrosse Leagues, second-placed Oxford University Blues host league leaders Bristol Bombers in the South West League with both sides looking to extend their unbeaten runs.

Coming into the game, Oxford University Blues have secured three wins and a draw from their four games, scoring 61 goals and conceding 20.

A 19-4 opening day victory over Southampton University was followed by a 12-3 away win over the University of Bristol which was then followed by an 8-8 draw against rivals Oxford City. Last week, a huge 22-5 win saw Oxford University Blues get back to winning ways.

Last season, Blues finished third in the league, eight points from top, after winning three, drawing one, and losing four of their eight games.

Bristol Bombers appear to be the early front-runners in the South East League after winning all four of their games so far, leaving them in top spot having scored 56 goals and shipping just 17.

The Bombers brushed aside the University of Bristol 17-2 in the Bristol derby on opening day before seeing off the University of Bath 15-3 in week two.

Week three saw them come out 14-3 winners over Southampton University before a narrow 10-9 victory over Oxford City last time out maintained their unbeaten run.

This is the Bombers first outing in the England Lacrosse Mixed Lacrosse Leagues but it’s clear they’ve got a penchant for mixed lacrosse and they head into Sunday’s game on the search for a fifth win in a row.

Oxford University Blues take on Bristol Bombers in Oxford at 1pm on Sunday 17 December.

EL Mixed Lacrosse Leagues (South West) Fixtures (all 17 November)

Oxford University Blues v Bristol Bombers | 1pm
University of Bristol v Oxford City | 1pm
University of Bath v Southampton University | 1pm

Match Focus | Cirencester v Southampton | SWLA Invitational Cup

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

Match Focus | Stockport v Oxton | NWLA Ladies League

In the sixth round of fixtures in the North West Lacrosse Association (NWLA) Ladies League on Saturday, third-placed Oxton travel to Greater Manchester to take on fourth-placed Stockport with both teams looking to continue their hunt for top spot.

Both teams come into this game after a week off due to international call-ups and will also play games against Leeds in Stockport as part of this week’s triangular fixture.

Stockport head into the game with four wins from five (their only loss being an 8-3 defeat to Timperley) and as the league’s top goal scorers, having scored a massive 103 goals while conceding just 24.

The 2024 Senior Women’s Flags champions are looking for another good season and have international calibre in their ranks with England’s Charlie Bell, Chloe Chan, and Rosie Jones all in their first team.

Last year’s league champions, Oxton, who’ve played a game extra than Stockport, are unbeaten so far this season with five wins and a draw from their six games, leaving them just two points behind current league leaders Timperley, who’ve played seven.

Looking for back to back league titles, Oxton have a raft of experienced players in their midst including England’s Ella Dimbylow and India Chadwick.

Stockport v Oxton takes place at Stockport Lacrosse Club from 11am.

For more information about NWLA and its league, click HERE.

NWLA Ladies League Fixtures (all 2 November)

Hull v Heaton Mersey | Hull | Time TBC
Mellor v Liverpool | Mellor | Time TBC
Oxton v Leeds | Stockport | Time TBC
Sheffield v Brooklands | Timperley | Time TBC
Sheffield v Timperley | Timperley | Time TBC
Stockport v Leeds | Stockport | Time TBC
Stockport v Oxton | Stockport | Time TBC
Timperley v Brooklands | Timperley | Time TBC

Match Focus | Camden Capybaras v Hitchin | SEMLA Premiership

On Saturday, in the third week of fixtures in the South of England Men’s Lacrosse Association (SEMLA) Premiership, Hitchin travel across London to Camden Capybaras looking to claim a second win of the season.

In their previous outing two weeks ago, Hitchin picked up a first win with a tight 11-8 victory over bottom of the table Hillcroft after an opening day 14-9 defeat to European champions Hampstead.

Camden Capybaras head into this weekend’s clash looking to bounce back after a humbling 17-3 loss to early league leaders Spencer last Friday night, a defeat that came after a positive first game of the season that saw them come away 9-8 winners against Spencer 2.

Hitchin are currently fourth in the table with six points while Camden Capybaras sit in fifth on the same number of points but with an inferior goal difference (SEMLA awards four points for a win, three points for a draw, and two points for a loss) and, depending on other results on Saturday, a win for either team could see them up to as high as second in the table.

Dubbed ‘the friendliest club in the south-east’, Hitchin has both men’s and women’s teams with England box men’s George Bascom, fresh off the back of a fourth-placed finish at the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships, among their current crop of men’s players.

In 2007, they famously won their only Premiership title to date, finishing three points ahead of second placed Purley with 15 wins, one draw, and zero losses.

Relatively young club Camden Capybaras were founded in 2018 and have quickly gained a reputation for being humorous on social media as well as being the fastest growing club in the south of England.

Their rosters include England box men’s coach Rob Ingham Clark and England box women’s captain Annabelle Akintoye and their men’s first team has been in the Premiership since promotion from Division 1 in 2020.

Camden Capybaras v Hitchin faces off at Camden’s Middlesex University pitch at 11am.

For more information about SEMLA and their leagues, click HERE.

SEMLA Premiership Week 3 Fixtures (all 26 October)

Camden Capybaras v Hitchin | Middlesex University | 11am
Hampstead v Hillcroft | Bacon's Community Sports Centre, London | 12pm
Spencer 2 v Spencer | The Spencer Club, London | 2pm