REPLAYED GAME SEES WARWICK LADIES COME OUT ON TOP TO CONTINUE UNDEFEATED SEASON

23/01/08

Loughborough 2nds 6 @ 13 Warwick Women's 1st

Following their 17-2 defeat over Birmingham 2nds in the closing game of the first term, Warwick Women’s 1st lacrosse team continued their winning streak in the opening game of term 2, finding victory with a 13-6 win over Loughborough. This was a repeated game due to a disagreement over the final score line in the previous BUSA meet, so tensions were high with both sides wanting to take revenge and settle the dispute, alongside the renowned Warwick-Loughborough lacrosse rivalry.

Warwick were fortunate to field a full strength side, similar to the team played against Birmingham, but with the Christmas break in between and the Loughborough side riled, the team were unsure what to expect. Yet Warwick were still riding high on the success of Birmingham 2s, one of the biggest matches of the season, and after an extensive and focused warm up, it was a team determined to win that lined up on the pitch to start.

With Loughborough a player down to start, Warwick expected things to turn in their favour, and the first ten minutes did nothing but exceed these expectations. Warwick received a well played 4-0 head start before Loughborough called in their side for a time out, a time out that drew a shadow over the Warwick players and saw a turn in the game with Loughborough coming back to take a lead before half time.

However Warwick ‘keeper Chloe Bensaid stepped up her game and made excellent saves against three separate Loughborough attempts at goal. Aided by her skilful defensive line up players, Jessica Hartley and Jen Boscoe, the ball was quickly moved into the midfield with fluid play from wings Louisa Mitchell and Temi Ogunsanya. Attacks, Sophie Lovat and Naomi Whittaker held the ball around the goal, setting up play for Alice Williams and Emily Maclennan to make fast drives to goal, equalling the score and challenging Loughborough’s defensive players.

With the Loughborough side tiring, Warwick took full advantage with Natalie Jones and centre, Tish Bryan, bringing the ball down to goal to take Warwick up to the final score of 13-6. Despite their being a few flaws to Warwick’s game, with a slight weakness in defence through to the interlinking play with attack, Warwick had achieved what they came to do: beat Loughborough to continue their season as the only undefeated side in the Midlands Conference 1A BUSA league.