London Knights defeated an impressive Steelheads side 8-7 to remain unbeaten and lift the inaugural Southern Box Lacrosse (SBL) Winter Box League trophy on Sunday.
After topping the group and reaching the final with aplomb, Ben Page-Laycock did what he always does and scored four for a dominant Knights’ side who staved off a late Steelheads comeback in the fourth quarter to be named the first ever SBL Winter Box League champions.
Steelheads’ star attacker, Louis Alhage, also got his name on the scoresheet four times but it wasn’t enough as his side fell to a second loss to Knights in the space of one month.
London Knights looked to be running away with the contest in the early stages as Silas Burke opened the scoring after cutting in from the right and scoring past the Steelheads goalie.
Two quick-fire and almost identical goals by Travis Payne and then Page-Laycock saw Knights take a deserved three goal lead before one of the goals of the tournament finally got Thundercats going.
Fiona MacLean showed great tenacity to win the ball in the attacking third before being received by Alhage some distance from goal who ripped it into the top corner with pinpoint accuracy.
Steelheads always looked to be chasing the game and after Page-Laycock hit two more goals either side of another Burke effort for Knights with just one reply from Alhage, they had it all to do.
Sam Perry started the comeback with a great driving run from near the halfway line before shrugging off a defender and firing home.
However, Will Walker was quick to reply for Knights to keep a four goal cushion after he took advantage of his side being a man-up.
A moment of good fortune then helped Ian Murray grab a fourth for Steelheads as the Knights goalie parried a shot into Murray’s path who was there to dink the ball into the back of the net.
With the game entering the final stages, Steelheads were looking stronger but it was Page-Laycock who hit another one for Knights after he was the quickest to react after a Stowe save left the ball trickling across the crease.
At this point at 8-4 down, Steelheads had nothing to lose and they started hitting Knights with wave after wave of attack.
Alhage kept up his scoring streak and grabbed another when he gathered the ball in the Knights crease after a good save from the goalie and scored with a diving shot into the empty net.
Then, Steelheads made Knights pay for being a man down when Perry received the ball in a pocket of space, set himself and scored from distance to give his side a real chance at 8-6 with just minutes to play.
Knights tried to continue attacking Steelheads as they had done previously in the game leaving them open at the back and Alhage punished them as he bombed forward and received the ball from goalie, Stowe, before being one on one with the Knights’ goal-keeper and scoring from just outside the crease.
In a one-goal game, and with seconds left to play, Steelheads had a brilliant chance to draw the game level but Perry fumbled the ball at the crucial moment and the officials blew the final whistle to give Knights the victory.
In the third place game, Jamie Powell helped Thundercats with a hat-trick as they managed to hold on to beat Heaton Hornets 11-10.
All the action from Finals Day at the SBL Winter Box League as well as the group stage games is available to watch on Lacrosse Live UK.
SBL Winter Box League Finals Day Results
London Knights 8-7 Steelheads
Thundercats 11-10 Heaton Hornets
