Hornets got one over on reigning champions Knights on the opening day of the Southern Box Lacrosse (SBL) Winter Box League on Sunday after winning 2-0 on penalties following a tight but exciting 8-8 draw at the Oxford Academy 3G Dome.
Ollie Allsop and Ryan Martin converted penalties for Hornets either side of a Ben Collins miss while Knights failed to score either of their two penalties as Jacob Brindle in goal came up trumps against captain Tom Roche and Will Walker.
Early on, Knights took control of the game storming into a 3-1 lead heading into the second half but Hornets halted their progression in the third quarter, going in level at 6-6 with 15 minutes to go.
A close 2-2 fourth quarter saw the game finish 8-8 with penalties to decide who would take home the win.
And it was Hornets who showed their early title credentials by taking the victory on opening day.
In the second and final men’s game of the day, Steelheads defeated Capitals 2-1 in another penalty shoot-out after an enthralling 12-12 draw in regular time.
Ben Buchanan, who had missed an earlier penalty shot within the game, stepped up to score first for Steelheads before Jamie Powell levelled up for Capitals.
Paul Milner (Steelheads) and Cameron Major (Capitals) both missed before Thom Gillbrook put his Steelheads team 2-1 ahead. Connor MacDougall then missed Capitals final penalty to leave them bottom of the table after one round of fixtures.
In regular time, it was a game of two halves with Steelheads edging the first half, taking an 8-5 lead into the second period but Capitals rallied, helped in no small part by Major who bagged six goals, to take the second half 7-4 and see the game out at 12-12.
Over in the women’s competition, Ravens won two out of two as they blew away the competition on opening day with Torz Anderson, new to box lacrosse this year, scoring six goals.
A narrow 9-7 victory over reigning champions Blaze started the day with Anderson proving a good lacrosse player can play any format of the game as she hit four goals for her team.
An enviable attacking line of Emma Savage, Issy Keane, and Minty Loxton huffed and puffed for Blaze scoring five between them but it was Ravens who would come away with the points.
Ravens’ second game of the day saw them take on newcomers Jaguars who feature England’s star of the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships Alex Drewe.
But Jaguars never really got going in the game and, despite a brace from Drewe, were unable to pose a real threat to a determined Ravens side who came away with a 5-2 win.
The third game in the women’s competition saw Blaze play Jaguars with Drewe really taking it to the opposition in this one, scoring three goals and two assists.
A hat-trick from Amy Bolton also helped as Jaguars edged an 8-6 victory over Blaze who’ll be looking to be much improved heading into the second round of fixtures this Sunday.
For more information about SBL and the Winter Box League, click HERE.
To watch every second from the Winter Box League, head to Lacrosse Live UK’s YouTube channel HERE.
Game Day 1 | Sunday 8 December
Knights 8:8 Hornets (2:1, 1:0, 3:5, 2:2, Hornets win 2-0 on penalties)
Knights scorers | Nathan Edwards (2G, 2A), Albert Whitehead (1G, 2A), Will Walker (2G), Kyle MacQueen (1G), Juliusz Bokiej (1G), Tyler Rodberg (1G). Penalties | Tom Roche x, Will Walker x
Hornets scorers | Ben Collins (3G, 1A), Ollie Allsop (2G), Ryan Martin (1G, 1A), Will Allsop (1G), Toby Deans (1G), Taylor Harrison (1A). Penalties | Ollie Allsop, Ben Collins x, Ryan Martin
Capitals 12:12 Steelheads (3:4, 2:4, 4:3, 3:1, Steelheads win 2-1 on penalties)
Capitals scorers | Cam Major (6G), Jamie Powell (2G, 1A), Jack O'Mahoney (2G), Travis Payne (1G, 1A), Andrew Leggett (1G). Penalties | Jamie Powell, Cameron Major x, Connor MacDougall x
Steelheads scorers | Ben Buchanan (4G), Andy Thomas (2G, 2A), Thom Gilbrook (1G, 2A), Patrick Kearney (2G), Paul Milner (1G, 1A), Billy Rawlins (2G), Dale Haxton (1A). Penalties | Ben Buchanan, Paul Milner x, Thom Gilbrook
Ravens 9:7 Blaze (4:3, 5:4)
Ravens scorers | Torz Anderson (4G), Georgie Greenwood (2G), Anna Neville (1G, 1A), Alice Gallagher Boyden (1G), Sophie Morrill (1G), Katie Greenwood (1A).
Blaze scorers | Emma Savage (2G), Issy Keane (2G, 1A), Lucy Ford (1G), Minty Loxton (1G), Frances Parshall (1G), Harriet Brooks (1A).
Blaze 6:8 Jaguars (4:3, 2:5)
Blaze scorers | Davina Emetulu (2G), Lucy Ford (2G), Issy Keane (2G), Emma Savage (2A), Minty Loxton (1A).
Jaguars scorers | Alex Drewe (3G, 2A), Amy Bolton (3G), Darcey Bance (1G), Rosie Bathurst (1G), Jane Lee (1A), Lucy Wright (1A).
Jaguars 2:5 Ravens (1:2, 1:3)
Jaguars scorers | Alex Drewe (2G), Lucy Wright (1A)
Ravens scorers | Torz Anderson (2G), Laura Beaman (2G), Katie Greenwood (1G), Lucy Mayers (1A)
Game Day 2 | Sunday 15 December
11:30 Hornets (H) v Capitals (A)
13:30 Jaguars (H) v Ravens (A)
14:15 Blaze (H) v Ravens (A)
15:00 Blaze (H) v Jaguars (A)
16:00 Steelheads (H) v Knights (A)
Winter Box League Top Scorers (after round 1)
Alex Drewe | Jaguars | 7 (5G, 2A)
Torz Anderson | Ravens | 6 (6G)
Cam Major | Capitals | 6 (6G)
Issy Keane | Blaze | 5 (4G, 1A)
Ben Buchanan | Steelheads | 4 (4G)
Ben Collins | Hornets | 4 (3G, 1A)
Nathan Edwards | Knights | 4 (2G, 2A)
Emma Savage | Blaze | 4 (2G, 2A)
Andy Thomas | Steelheads | 4 (2G, 2A)
Amy Bolton | Jaguars | 3 (3G)
Lucy Ford | Blaze | 3 (3G)
Thom Gilbrook | Steelheads | 3 (1G, 2A)
Jamie Powell | Capitals | 3 (2G, 1A)
Albert Whitehead | Knights | 3 (1G, 2A)
Ollie Allsop | Hornets | 2 (2G)
Laura Beaman | Ravens | 2 (2G)
Davina Emetulu | Blaze | 2 (2G)
Georgie Greenwood | Ravens | 2 (2G)
Katie Greenwood | Ravens | 2 (1G, 1A)
Patrick Kearney | Steelheads | 2 (2G)
Minty Loxton | Blaze | 2 (1G, 1A)
Ryan Martin | Hornets | 2 (1G, 1A)
Paul Milner | Steelheads | 2 (1G, 1A)
Anna Neville | Ravens | 2 (1G, 1A)
Jack O'Mahoney | Capitals | 2 (2G)
Travis Payne | Capitals | 2 (1G, 1A)
Billy Rawlins | Steelheads | 2 (2G)
Will Walker | Knights | 2 (2G)
Will Allsop | Hornets | 1 (1G)
Darcey Bance | Jaguars | 1 (1G)
Rosie Bathurst | Jaguars | 1 (1G)
Juliusz Bokiej | Knights | 1 (1G)
Alice Gallagher Boyden | Ravens | 1 (1G)
Harriet Brooks | Blaze | 1 (1A)
Toby Deans | Hornets | 1 (1G)
Taylor Harrison | Hornets | 1 (1A)
Dale Haxton | Steelheads | 1 (1A)
Jane Lee | Jaguars | 1 (1A)
Andrew Leggett | Capitals | 1 (1G)
Kyle MacQueen | Knights | 1 (1G)
Sophie Morrill | Ravens | 1 (1G)
Frances Parshall | Blaze | 1 (1G)
Tyler Rodberg | Knights | 1 (1G)
Lucy Wright | Jaguars | 1 (1A)