INTRODUCTION
The good news is that after 100% losing record last week the Boy’s / Men’s Programme enjoyed a 100% winning run this week. Unfortunately, only one game escaped the weather with the U12A travelling to Brooklands where they overwhelmed a young and gutsy home side winning by 26-2. In Timperley’s defence they did not hammer home their advantage of experience if not age. The game was one Timperley controlled and if anything could have won by even more goals.
The Brooklands pitch was in top class condition and they are truly fortunate to possess such weather resistant surfaces with at least one senior game being played in the afternoon with Brooklands taking an 11-7 win over Sheffield.
In the only other Premiership game Rochdale went to Didsbury to take on Waconians in a relegation dogfight which Rochdale won comfortably by 15-6.
The U12 match did emphasise some of the many problems which need to be addressed at this age group and which will hopefully be addressed by NWLA.
The competition for young boys amongst the large number of sporting opportunities available, particularly in south Manchester, is intense. One of the results of this is that if you have to recruit younger and younger boys and 5 year is now the age if you want to compete with soccer, rugby and hockey, certainly for athletes.
One the obvious outcomes is that the age range on many U12 teams is too wide covering 4 or even 5 years which results in a number of mismatches and probably only 4 or 5 teams at the most playing “proper” lacrosse.
Timperley turned up at Brooklands to find a pitch which was reduced in size to accommodate U12 players which is fine except that the reduction was taken from the area behind goals. One of the things which differentiates lacrosse from other games is the importance of attack play behind goals. It is a fundamental and integral part of the game so not to have space behind goals is negating a fundamental part of the game.
My personal view is that messing around with field dimensions should be for U10 and U8 Lacrosse and that U12 should be grown up lacrosse on grown up pitches.
If we are to sustain teams at all age groups then a clubs U12 programme needs to be generating 6-8 players to progress each season.

MATCH REPORTS
Timperley Boys U12A v Brooklands (A)Won 26-2
This week the U12A took on Brooklands away. Brooklands took a shock lead after Timperley failed to convert some early chances. After conceding it was all one way traffic as the boys moved the ball well and scored 6, with a wonderful run and assist from Ben Lawton. Goals from Cai (2), Mackenzie, Jim, Alfie and Owen saw the score at the end of first quarter 1-6 Timperley. The second quarter was even more one sided as Timperley dominated possession and hit 8 unanswered goals. Cai (2), Angus, Owen, Mackenzie, Kit and Jim. The third quarter started the same way the second had finished with Timperley again dominating the possession. Some good work at the back from Alex, Toby and Ben meant Brooklands only got 1 back to Timperley's 5 with goals from Angus, Owen, Kit, Jim and Cai. The final quarter was a shotfest with all the boys trying to get on the score sheet. Not the best quarter for team play but 7 goals was a great way to finish off. Goals from Jim (3), Alfie, Cai, Angus and Owen. Final score 2-26 Timperley.

Another good showing in goal for Tom Allen and a great A team debut for George Rommel but this week’s man of the match Laurie Bailey with a great all round performance.

Stats
Cai Alty (6.2) Jim Hartley (6.1), Owen Shuttleworth (4.1), Angus Gilchrist (4.0), Kit Sanders (2.2), Mackenzie Baird (2.0), Alfie Jenkins (2.0), Ben Lawton (0.1), George Rommel (0.1)

Timperley U 13 Girls v Stockport (H) Won 16-3
I am not writing about the weather anymore because we have not seen the sun properly for a while. We played a friendly game against Stockport, since we have no league games to catch up. We had 13 players and were missing a number of the usual U15s. We had two U13s playing for us and like the whole team they played well.

We were sharp, focused and determined from the beginning. Some were more than others but I think at the end it spread to all of the players. We used this game as a warm up and keeping our skills sharp, for the all important league deciding game against Mellor in two weeks time.

First half. The score for the first half was 8 - 2 for us. We dominated them on all fronts from the beginning till the end of the first half. When they had the ball and came close to our goal mostly we defended well and on those occasions they went through Gabrielle in goal stopped them. We scored a some individual goals but most were well worked out team goals. Defensively we did not give them much, midfield was putting pressure and attack was sharp (I know I used this sentence before but this was the case this game too, I am not just being lazy and recycling reports).

Second half. Pretty much the same as 1st half but even less room and time was given to Stockport’s good players. Second half score was 8 - 1 so the final score was 16 - 3. Gabby Hall did well in her first 12 a side game.

Things we need to focus on and work on even more for the Mellor game are:
• Men marking. Double marking. We need to pair up during training and practise this so it becomes second nature. We did this today but we need to get even better at it.
• More movement around the D when we are attacking. Did some but need to do even more.
• When passing make eye contact and do not try hopeful balls. We did not do to many of these but we need to do near zero of this when we play Mellor.

Man of the Match Defence - Libby Morris. Part of a solid defence. Made some important interceptions and double marking of key players.
Man of the Match Midfield - Jodie Pollard. Worked hard, scored and assisted. She worked hard like the others in midfield.
Man of the Match Attack - Emma Coghlan. Good movement around the D. Worked very hard, scored and assisted.
Man of the Match Match - Emilly Meppem. Was like a person possessed. Worked tirelessly up and down the pitch. Did not care what size the other player was and went fully committed into all challenges and most of the time came out winning the ball. She made some great runs with and without the ball. Lots of good catches and sharp accurate passes.

Goals and assists
Emma Coghlan (6.0), Jodie Pollard (3.3), Elena Rink (3.2), Emilly Meppem (1.4), Ana Green (1.2), Emma Whitley (1.0), Annabelle Allan (1.0), Charlotte Christian (0.1), Gabby Hall (0.1)

Our next game is the all important league championship deciding game