Day 1 review: National Schools Lacrosse Championships 2022

Moreton Hall (section 3), Queen Anne’s Caversham (section 6) and St George’s Harpenden (section 7) were the only teams to maintain a 100 per cent record at the end of day one of the National Schools Lacrosse Championships 2022.

Putney, who top the U19A section 1 table after the first day of play, and School Challenge Cup 2021 winners, St Catherine’s (section 4), were the only other teams to remain unbeaten while Benenden and Wycombe Abbey sit at the top of the section 2 and section 5 tables respectively.

2020 winners of the U19A Championship, Wycombe Abbey, started off where they left off two years ago by defeating a very strong Bedford Girls’ team by two goals to one before succumbing to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bolton.

The rest of the day was fairly straightforward for the Wycombe Abbey team as they beat Godolphin 5-1, Cheltenham Ladies’ College 4-2, Uppingham 9-0, and Abbots Hill 7-0.

St Catherine’s, who won the School Challenge Cup last year after a narrow 6-5 victory over Caterham in the final, started their day with a 3-2 win over Withington before a 3-3 draw with St Mary’s Calne.

After a 2-0 win over Haberdashers’ Girls’, St Catherine’s grew into the first day of the competition, showing their attacking prowess with a 5-0 win against Fettes College before ending the day with a 9-0 and 10-0 thrashing of Heathfield and Malvern St James respectively.

Moreton Hall were extremely strong in their section as they overcame Guildford 3-2, Westonbirt 8-0, Claremont 6-3, North London Collegiate 7-0, Haileybury 11-0, and St James 9-0.

It was slightly less simple for Queen Anne’s Caversham but no less impressive as they defeated Shrewbury 2-1, Caterham 3-2, Monmouth 4-3, Marlborough 4-1, Birkenhead 3-1, and St Bartholomew’s 6-0.

The other team with a 100 per cent record after day one were St George’s Harpenden who were able to win 6-1 against Lady Eleanor Holles, 3-2 vs Downe House, 9-0 against Sherborne, 8-0 vs Queen Margaret, 11-0 against St Albans, and 10-1 vs St Helens.

Putney were able to defeat Berkhamsted 5-1 and draw 4-4 with St Helen & St Katharine before beating St Paul’s 3-2, Walthamstow 5-2, Harrogate 7-0, and Tudor Hall 10-0.

Finally, in section 2, Benenden finished top of the table after the first day of play despite starting the day with a 3-2 defeat to St Swithun’s; they were able to win their remaining games against St Albans 4-2, Stowe 6-0, St George’s Ascot 9-2, King’s 10-1, and Loretto 8-0.

Day 2 of the Championships begins tomorrow at 9am with the finals taking place in the afternoon.

To see the schedule for tomorrow and the rest of the tournament, please click HERE.