William Ransom Crowned National Champions
By Neil Goulding
WILLIAM Ransom are toasting sweet success having won the National Pop Lacrosse Championships at the weekend.
The on-song Hitchin-based Primary School finished runners-up at last year's annual tournament at the University of Hertfordshire.
But this year returned to go one step better and claim their second national title in front of a large crowd on their home patch.
Having finished top of their qualifying pool, William Ransom impressed with a 6-3 quarter-final victory over The Downs - whom beat them in last year's final - before beating Welsh school St. John's on the Hill 11-8 after overtime in the knockout semi-finals.
And the best was still to come as the school's talented youngsters turned on the style to beat St. Peter's Church of England 10-7 in this year's showcase final.
'I'm so proud of everyone involved in the team, from the children to our teachers Steve Mills and Anne Light who have worked so hard to make this success possible,' praised Mary Driver, William Ransom's Head teacher.
'It was a fantastic day for the school. Getting to the national finals was a great achievement, but being able to win a second national is wonderful.
'We had a lot of support at the tournament, we were lucky because is very close to us. The kids are absolutely buzzing about their achievement, there were a lot of big grins in school today.'
A total of 18 teams competed in this year's tournament, with four qualifying pools - two of five teams and two of four teams - giving schools the chance to qualify for the knockout stages.
And for those schools which missed out on the Championship knockout phase, there was the chance to win honours in the Plate competition.
This season saw Bowdon Church of England win the Plate final for the first time following an 8-3 victory over North West rivals Brooklands Hulmeians.
Bowdon, who have won the Championship three times - more than any other school - finished third in their qualifying pool, so had to settle for honours in the Plate.
In the quarter-finals they beat Mellor, yet another North West school, 8-6, before following that with a 7-5 semi-final win over Rendcomb.
And another welcome title followed when the Cheshire team outclassed Brooklands in the final.
Results:
National Pop Lacrosse Championships (University of Hertfordshire) - Championship final: William Ransom 10 St. Peter's 7. Semi-finals: William Ransom 11 St. John's on the Hill 8 (after overtime), St. Peter's COE 11 Sandon JMI 2. Quarter-finals: William Ransom 6 The Downs 3, Kingscourt 7 St. John's on the Hill 9, Lochmaben 7 St. Peter's COE 9, Sandon JMI 6 Diggle 5.
Plate final: Bowdon COE 8 Brooklands 3. Semi-finals: Bowdon COE 7 Rendcomb 5, Brooklands 6 Belmont 4. Quarter-finals: Bowdon COE 8 Mellor 6, Rencomb 7 Hayes 4, Coulsdon COE 6 Belmont 7, Brooklands 10 Watchlytes 7 (after overtime).
Pool standings:
Pool A: 1. William Ransom, 2. Lochmaben, 3. Bowdon COE, 4. Coulsdon COE
Pool B: 1. Kingscourt, 2. Sandon JMI, 3. Rencomb, 4. Brooklands, 5. Honeywell
Pool C: 1. St. Peter's COE, 2. The Downs, 3. Belmont Grosvenor, 4. Mellor, 5. Goring
Pool D: 1. Diggle, 2. St. John's on the Hill, 3. Watchlyte, 4. Hayes
Roll of honour (National Pop Championship)
2008 - William Ransom
2007 - The Downs
2006 - William Ransom
2005 - Greenmount
2004 - Bowdon COE
2003 - Didsbury Road
2002 - Mellor
2001 - Bowdon COE
2000 - Vernon County
1999 - Bowdon COE
1998 - Didsbury
1997 - Cougan
1996 - Greenmount/Milton Keynes (title shared)
1995 - Cougan
1994 - Disley
Plate Championship
2008 - Bowdon COE
2007- St. Peter's C of E
2006 - J Gillespie
2005- Didsbury Road
This year's teams were:
|
Belmont Grosvenor |
North |
|
Bowdon COE |
North West |
|
Brooklands |
North West |
|
Coulsdon COE |
London |
|
Diggle |
North West |
|
Goring |
South East |
|
Hayes |
London |
|
Honeywell |
London |
|
Kingscourt |
South East |
|
Lochmaben |
Scotland |
|
Mellor |
North West |
|
Rendcomb |
South West |
|
Sandon JMI |
East |
|
St John's on the Hill |
Wales |
|
St Peter's COE |
Midlands |
|
The Downs |
South West |
|
Watchlytes |
East |
|
William Ransom |
East |
