Spencer and Blues Lacrosse Clubs ensured a clean sweep for the English teams at the 2022 Ken Galluccio Cup over the weekend as they brought home the men’s and women’s titles respectively.
Both teams left the Camps Municipals La Teixonera-Vall d'Hebron in Barcelona, Spain with 100 per cent records after winning every game they competed in.
Spencer defeated Frankfurt 9-4 in a tight men’s final before Blues took on close rivals Edinburgh University in the women’s final, defeating the Scottish team 19-4 to win the Cup.
On Friday, Spencer got the English teams underway in the men’s competition as they took on Brussels Beavers in their first group stage game.
And it was as straightforward a win as can be seen with Will Walker and Tom Leahy grabbing themselves a hat-trick each to help Spencer on their way to a comfortable 11-0 victory.
In their second and final group stage fixture on Saturday morning, Spencer were equally prolific, eventually winning 12-1 with another Walker hat-trick helping them on their way to victory.
Two wins out of two in the group stage meant a quarter-final match-up with Sundbyberg Lacrosse who were also unbeaten at the tournament after beating Oslo Saints and Amsterdam Lions in their group games.
But Spencer were able to make light work of the team from Sweden, emerging 10-2 victors with the help from another two goals from Walker as well as three from Sam Hewitt.
Lacrosse Jižní Město awaited Spencer in the semi-final on Sunday looking extend their impressive run at the competition that had seen them draw with Amsterdam Lions in their first group stage match before demolishing Madrid Osos and Vienna Monarchs 12-1 and 11-1 respectively on their way to the semis.
The team from Czech Republic caused some problems for Spencer early on forcing a goal-less first quarter but the English team grew in confidence as the game wore on, eventually conceding just once in a 12-1 win that also saw hat-tricks for Tom Bracegirdle and Ben Buchanan.
On Sunday afternoon, Spencer stepped onto the field to take on Frankfurt in the final of the 2022 Ken Galluccio Cup which proved to be their toughest test of the competition.
But the result was never really in doubt as Spencer were able to keep ahead of their opponents throughout the contest despite four closely fought quarters.
And four huge goals from Bracegirdle helped Spencer over the line and join the list of English teams to have claimed victory at the Ken Galluccio Cup!
In the women’s competition, Blues started with aplomb on Saturday morning against Ghent Gazelles, defeating the team from Belgium 13-0, with five goals from Liv Wimpenny as well as a hat-trick each from Alex Drewe and Bex Jordache.
Immediately after that first group-stage game, Blues were back on the field taking on Graz Gladiators who they blew away with equal ease, coming out 12-1 victors, this time with hat-tricks apiece for Wimpenny, Drewe, and Nancy Day.
Heading into the quarter-final, Blues’ confidence was sky-high but they were about to come up against Oslo Pandas who had lost one and won one in their group-stage games against LCC Radotín and Madrid Osos.
And, despite a tight second half that saw Blues come out on top by just one goal, the English team had done enough in the first to see out a 12-5 victory with Drewe bagging another hat-trick for her team.
The competition was hotting up as it entered its latter stages and Blues’ semi-final against LCC Radotín proved to be a tricky one for them to overcome.
But, once again, a quick start ensured a 3-0 first quarter win which helped Blues to an eventual 9-6 win along with three goals for Laura Beaman and two more for Drewe to set up a mouth-watering final match with Edinburgh University.
And Blues really turned it on as they vied for victory against their rivals from across the border with a prolific turn from Drewe and Wimpenny once again who both scored four as Blues claimed the Ken Galluccio Cup with a 19-4 win.
