Match Focus | Rochdale v Timperley A | NWLA Championship

Rock bottom Timperley A travel north to table toppers Rochdale on Saturday in the North West Lacrosse Association (NWLA) Championship looking to kick start their season in the run-up to Christmas.

Timperley A have struggled to get going so far this season with seven defeats from their seven games leaving them in ninth place with 0 points.

Despite what the table shows, however, Timperley A haven’t been a million miles off in games, losing three of their seven matches by just two points.

Timperley A represents Timperley’s second men’s team with their first team currently sitting third in the Premiership and boasting players such as England U20 players Jim Hartley and Jack Dearden.

Rochdale have played fewer games than four teams in the Championship and find themselves top of the table and in prime position for a return to the Premiership after six wins in six at the start of the 2024/25 season.

Last time out, they overcame stiff competition from current second placed team Cheadle A, winning 8-6 to extend their lead at the top.

72 goals scored and just 40 conceded sees them with 12 points and a superior goal difference over everyone else in the league.

Having been founded over 100 years ago in 1888, Rochdale’s current talent pool includes England’s Daniel Madeley and Josh Clegg.

Rochdale take on Timperley A at Rochdale Sports Club on Saturday 7 December with the face-off at 2pm.

NWLA Fixtures (all 7 December)

Championship

Heaton Mersey A v Boardman & Eccles | 2pm
Rochdale v Timperley A | 2pm
Stockport A v Wacsbury | 2pm

Division 1

Brooklands A v Heaton Mersey B | 2pm
Cheadle B v Poynton A | 2pm
Cheadle Hulme v Wilmslow A | 2pm

Division 2

Boardman & Eccles A v Rochdale A | 2pm
Stockport B v Wacsbury B | 2pm
Wilmslow B v Brooklands ExA | 2pm

Match Focus | Derby Hurricanes v City of Stoke | Midlands Local League

Derby Hurricanes host City of Stoke in the Midlands Local League on Saturday looking to pick up their first win of the season after eight consecutive defeats.

Despite their run of bad luck in the league so far this season, Derby have lost four of their games by three points or fewer showing their ability to compete in the Midlands Local League.

Founded just two years ago in 2022, Derby Hurricanes are based in the city of Derby, Derbyshire and now have men’s and women’s teams who take part in competitive leagues as well as friendlies throughout the year.

The 2024/25 season is Derby’s third season in the Midlands Local League after finishing eighth in 2022/23 and seventh in 2023/24.

City of Stoke come into the game after playing two games less than their opponents but with five wins from their six games and looking to continue their title charge away from home this weekend.

Their only defeat so far this season came away to reigning champions Nuneaton who are unbeaten in the league having won all five games they’ve played up to now.

City of Stoke have 10 years on Derby after being founded in 2012 as a way for students within the Stoke area to continue playing lacrosse after their studies.

12 years later and they now boast two men’s teams, a women’s team, and a mixed team who all compete in leagues throughout the season.

They’re the reigning SEMLA Minor Flags champions after defeating Exeter University 13-4 in the 2024 final and finished eighth in the league last year.

Midlands Local Leagues Fixtures (all 1 December)

City of Stoke 2 v Nottingham University | 2pm
City of Stoke 2 v Warwick University | 2pm
Nottingham University v Warwick University | 2pm
City of Stoke 1 v Leicester City 1 | 2pm
Derby Hurricanes v City of Stoke 1 | 2pm
Nuneaton 2 v Leicester City 2 | 2pm
Sheffield Tanger v Leicester City 2 | 2pm
Sheffield Tanger v Nuneaton 2 | 2pm

Match Focus | Stockport v Cheadle | NWLA Premiership

Seventh-placed Cheadle make the short journey across Greater Manchester to third-placed Stockport on Saturday in the North West Lacrosse Association (NWLA) Premiership.

Stockport are looking to hit the ground running after the latest international break and grab a fourth win of the season and possibly move up to second in the league table.

In their final game before the break, Stockport saw off Heaton Mersey 14-9 to bounce back after a humbling 20-4 defeat to top of the table Poynton.

The 2024 Senior Northern Flags champions have an enviable wealth of talent in their squad, including England stars Mike Pomfret, Ryan Sweetman, Dave Groves, and Danny Hilditch.

Founded in 1876, Stockport are one of the oldest clubs in England and indeed the world, celebrating their 150th birthday in 2026!

Cheadle have had a difficult start to the 2024/25 season, picking up just one win against Mellor way back in September.

Three defeats have followed against Heaton Mersey, Timperley, and Brooklands and Cheadle will be desperate to get back to winning ways against Stockport after a couple of weeks off.

Having played two games fewer than Stockport, a win could see Cheadle jump three spaces in the table while a defeat could see them fall to rock bottom, depending on Sheffield’s result against Timperley.

Founded just three years after Stockport in 1879, Cheadle are also up there with some of the oldest clubs in the world and has been hugely successful over the years, winning the league in 2019.

Their first team squad this season features some of England’s brightest young stars, including Ellis Baythorpe, Leo Baythorpe, Joachim Ruby, and Will Shirt.

Stockport v Cheadle faces off at Stockport Lacrosse Club, Greater Manchester at 2pm on Saturday.

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

NWLA Fixtures (all 23 November)

Premiership

Timperley v Sheffield | 2pm
Stockport v Cheadle | 2pm
Mellor v Poynton | 2pm
Heaton Mersey v Brooklands | 2pm

Ladies League

Brooklands v Leeds | 2pm
Heaton Mersey v Timperley | 2pm
Liverpool v Mellor | 2pm
Wilmslow v Sheffield | 2pm

Championship

Boardman & Eccles v Wacsbury | 2pm
Cheadle A v Stockport A | 2pm
Mellor A v Rochdale | 2pm
Wilmslow v Timperley A | 2pm

Division 1

Brooklands A v Cheadle B | 2pm
Leeds v Cheadle Hulme | 2pm
Sheffield A v Heaton Mersey B | 2pm
Wacsbury A v Wilmslow A | 2pm

Division 2

Rochdale A v Cheadle C | 2pm
Stockport B v Mellor B | 2pm
Wacsbury B v Borders | 2pm
Wilmslow B v Boardman & Eccles A

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