One of the real successes of recent years has been the growth of women’s lacrosse and in particular junior girls programmes based at what were traditionally men’s clubs.
Timperley has been at the forefront of this expansion. Under the leadership of people like Cengiz Ilhan, Jo Racle, Gary Hall, Chris Wright, Brett Christian and many others girl’s lacrosse has grown in both quality and quantity

U11s
First year, where most clubs played regularly against each other.  The difference between our U11s first game and their run in the JNGL Cup was immense.  One thing that never was absent from our players was their smile, win or lose.  So well done to the team for their performances at the Christmas 8s (4th place) to their 3rd place at JNGL Cup.

This was Catherine Burns first year as the Team Manager and she did a tremendous job considering she was new to the game.

On the coaching side, Brett did his magic with them on Saturday with the help of a number of U15 and U18 girls.  Thank you to all of them.  May support for our youngest age group continue.

U13s
Second year of the leagues system and in my opinion and most of the other clubs, it was a great success. Newish team with new girls coming up from U11s and large number of girls moved up to U15.  All the girls stepped up and did their bit to a successful year.  We might not have won the Cobham tournament but we won the league (jointly with Mellor), won the Christmas 8s and won the JNGL cup.

This was Maria McNally’s first and last year as the Team Manager and like Catherine, she did a tremendous job considering she was new to the game too.  She was also great at organising the U13s and their parents for the Cobham tournament and other tournaments that we took part in.

On the coaching side, we had Jo Racle, Lucy Ford and Fab taking trainings and coaching on match days. They were also well supported by players from U15s and U18s.  Thank you to all of them.

U15s
Second year of the leagues system too and a success for all the clubs entered.  Due to the numbers we decided to enter two teams, Timperley Blue (younger girls) and Timperley White (older girls).  Blue won the league without losing a game and White were 4th.  Blue and White were joint winners for the JNGL Cup title and the Club tournament.  White won the Christmas 8s.  And as you will read later you will find out how our combined team performed at the Cobham tournament.

It was hard at times managing two teams but thanks to help and support of different people we managed it, but not to be repeated this year.

On the coaching side, we had Jo Racle, Lucy Ford and Fab Johnson taking trainings and coaching on match days.  They were supported by players from U18s. Thank you to all of them.

U18s
Like the U15s due to the numbers we decided to enter two teams, Timperley Blue and Timperley White.  Blue team were 4th and White team were 5th.  Blue team started well and had a chance of winning the league but results towards the later part of the season did not help their cause.  Still a very respectful finish in a league with many good teams.  Whilst the White team did not start well and had to wait a long time for their first point (a draw with Mellor on a horizontal snowing day) and then few weeks later won against Stockport to finish 5th.  There were no JNGL Cup or Club tournament for the U18s.  At the Christmas 8s we were 3rd.

We had two team managers with Gary Hall responsible for the Blue team and myself for the White team. Gary was not just the team manager but he also took most of the training sessions for the U18s.  Thank you for doing both those roles.

On the coaching side, we also had the help of Jo Racle.  Thank you Gary & Jo.

COBHAM TOURNAMENT
Over the last few years Timperley has travelled south to the heartland of girls’ lacrosse and over the years we have become more competitive.

This was the 4th year that we participated in the well organised Cobham tournament South West of London.  In our first tournament we lost all but one game but the experience spurred the girls and parents to come back and do better.  Each subsequent year, we did better but never won the tournament but came second a few times with different age group.  Was this year our year?  For a number of regulars (around 9 girls) this was going to be there last one.

We all went down the night before and the U13s played a friendly on Saturday but the U15s did not this year.  Saturday night we were just short of 60 people when we sat down for our dinner in Leatherhead (second year we came here).  As usual it was great fun and good bonding opportunity for the girls and the parents.

As it has been last few years, the weather was great again and we were ready for it.  For the first time, we also had plenty of subs and even the luxury of two goalies who each took one half of a game.

1st game vs. Caterham
No sign of our first game syndrome.  Played well from the beginning till the end.  Won the game 4 - 1.

Goal scores: 1x Emma Whitley; Jodie Pollard; Sophie Hurlstone and Elise Humblet.
Assists: 1x Elena Rink; Henny Wright; Alice Allan and Anna Green.

2nd game vs. Cobham
Always tough opponents.  This year they challenged us at the beginning a bit, but once we found our stride won comfortably.  Won the game 7 - 2.

Goal scores: 3x Maddie Lord; Alice Allan. 1x Sophie Hurlstone.
Assists: 2x Anna Green. 1x Henny Wright; Sophie Hurlstone and Alice Allan.

3rd game vs. Hawks
I thought this would be a tough game but was proven wrong by the girls.  Won the game 5 - 0.

Goal scores: 2x Maddie Lord and Alice Allan. 1x Henny Wright.
Assists: 2x Sophie Hurlstone and Alice Allan. 1x Henny Wright.

4th game vs. Reigate
Final game of the group and we maintained our focus and intensity.  Won the game 6 - 0.

Goal scores: 2x Maddie Lord and Sophie Hurlstone. 1x Jasmine Torevell and Alice Allan.
Assists: 2x Anna Green and Alice Allan. 1x Elise Humblet and Emma Whitley.

Semi-final vs. New Stars
We saw them play in their group games and they looked like a good team.  Started competitive but once we got into our stride again, there was no looking back for us.  Won the game 5 - 0. 

Goal scores: 2x Alice Allan. 1x Anna Green; Elise Humblet and Maddie Lord.
Assists: 1x Maddie Lord; Jodie Pollard; Henny Wright and Alice Allan.

Final vs. Centaurs
We made the final.  One of our goals was achieved.  Would we go any further than before and win this tournament?  We met in the final the Centaurs, without a doubt our toughest opponent and with us the best team in the tournament.

We started well and went 1 - 0 up.  It was a close game from the beginning till the end.  Then we let them comeback and go ahead 1 - 2.  We were running out of time and we on the side were thinking can we do it or will it be another near miss.  Thank god that the girls found something extra and pushed.  Their head never went down and fought till the end.  At the end they were rewarded with a goal just in normal time, to level the game at 2 - 2.  We (players, coaches and supporters) were so focused that we did not notice that we had gone into golden goal time.  You score and you win.  You concede and you lose the final then a long drive home awaits you to dwell on what we could have done differently.  Thanks to the girls those thoughts were reserved for Centaurs.  We could now bask in the glory of our victory on our way back to the North.  It took us a while to sink in that we had won once the winning goal was scored.  We were expecting a draw and then for the hooter, which never came, because we had scored the golden goal and were the winner of the U15s tournament.  Once this all sank in, there was great jubilation by the girls but even more so form all the supporters and the coaches on the side.

At the end we won the game 3 - 2!

Goal scores: 1x Maddie Lord; Sophie Hurlstone and Elise Humblet.
Assists: 1x Jodie Pollard; Sophie Hurlstone and Alice Allan.

Throughout the tournament (6x games) we only conceded 5 goals.  This shows how well our goalies did but also how well we defended and worked as a team.  We know we can be devastating in attack and we showed this again to all the teams.  Everyone worked very hard and we deserved to win this tournament.  Well done to all the girls and thank you for the parents for taking them there and supporting them.  We will be back next year to defend our crown.

MORETON HALL
For the last few years Jenny Sanderson, the teacher in charge of Lacrosse at Moreton Hall School has invited Timperley to take part in their pre season competition.

The U15 and U18s entered the Moreton Hall tournament.  This was more of a warm up tournament and therefore there were no winners or losers. However...

U15 won all their games and played really well as a team.  It bodes well for the coming season.  The girls that have recently moved up from the U13s did very well.  We had some great opposition and dealt with them very well.

U18 won all but their last game.  Again it should be an interesting season.  If we turn up we will give any team a tough game and can beat them.  We were still missing some key players so when they join the team we will be even stronger.