Bath Eights tournament 7th September 2024
Bath Women fall at the last hurdle
2024 saw for the first time since establishing the dual Men’s and Women’s tournament a full turnout. The Men fielded 33 teams and the Women 25 teams from all over the UK, with a healthy representation of Club, University, Alumna, Schools and Affiliations.
Yet again the weather held up, despite the forecast predicting rain.
In the Men’s tournament, the quarter finals saw a dominance of Northern League clubs with only Hitchin and Camden Capybaras representing the Southern League. Bath men had had a mixed tournament, unable to convert some good possession in close games.
Quarter Final results.
Wilmslow LC 4:2 York University (Odin)
Loughborough University Alumni 6:4 Camden Capybaras LC
Cheadle LC 4:3 Hitchin LC
Mellor LC 5:3 Cheadle Coffin Dodgers
With the South out of the picture the Semi Finals developed into some fast-paced lacrosse, with all the keepers being kept on their toes.
Semi Final Results
Loughborough University Alumni 3:0 Wilmslow LC
Mellor LC 4:3 Cheadle LC
The final was end to end, again keepers making some great saves, and in a relatively hight scoring game the 2024 winners, Mellor LC retained their crown, defeating a spirited Loughborough University.
Congratulations Mellor LC
Final Result
Mellor LC 4:3 Loughborough University Alumni
In the Women’s tournament the quarter Finals provided a good regional spread, but certainly reflected the dominance of the Women’s game in the South. From a home team point of view, Bath Women came through ranked 6, which meant a rematch with Camden Capybaras ranked no 3. The Capybaras beat the host team 5:3 in the prelims, despite Bath taking more shots on goal – the Ladies in Red were up for revenge and provided the only result in the round that did not go to form and launched the Mighty Red into unchartered territory for the first time in the tournaments history, Men’s or Women’s.
Quarter Finals results (Rank)
Cheltenham Cougars LC (1) 6:2 City of Stoke LC (8)
Cirencester LC (2) 7:2 RAF/Armed Forces (7)
Camden Capybaras LC (3) 2:4 Bath LC (6)
Reading LC (4) 6:3 Stowe School 3 (5)
The Semi Finals put Bath against the 2023 winners, Cirencester, and it provided the game of the round, finishing with the teams tied at 3 goals each – Sudden death overtime ensued – Both teams had chances to score before Bath, through an Izzy Dudley sidearm shot put Bath through to the Final, definitely giddy heights.
The other Semi saw a solid Cheltenham team justify their No1 ranking winning out against a gutsy Reading squad 4:2
Semi Final Results
Cheltenham Cougars LC (1) 4:2 Reading LC (4)
Cirencester LC (2) 3:4 Bath LC (6) – Golden goal overtime
The Final was a rematch between the West country rivals, the clubs had contested the Southwest Cup Final earlier in the year, with Cheltenham edging the game; and almost every game between the two has been hotly contested. Cheltenham went into this game as favourites, ranked no1 and on the back of a 4:2 win over Bath in the prelims.
Bath however had other ideas, and took the game to Cheltenham, even at one stage having a player advantage due to a yellow card, the game was intense, and both teams had opportunities to win, but in the end, Cheltenham drew on their wealth of experience and scored the winner with very little time on the clock. A well deserved and well fought win for the Gloucestershire outfit.
Congratulations Cheltenham Cougars LC
Bath Women should be proud, this is the furthest any Bath team has managed in the 38 years the tournament has been running, roll on 2025.
Running a tournament for 58 lacrosse teams over 10 pitches in a single day takes a lot of work for the volunteer organisers, and all those that helped on the day are super stars. The organisation starts 7 months before (although the site is booked a year in advance), Team bookings, vendors, communications, documentation, printing, medals, pitch markings, all must be in place.
The day before the tournament, a team transport the equipment to Odd Down from storage in Trowbridge 12 miles away, then restring all the extra goals and set up catch netting.
On the day, early, all the players join in to set up the safety nets and pitches before getting ready to play. Then the “day team” steps up –
General logistics – who and what goes where. Car Parking (some people seem to think anywhere is OK), Rubbish pickers, T shirt Stall, The Bar (Lilleys Cider part of your 5 a day), the Officials, Video streaming and the folk manning the all-important score tables.
And of course, at the end of the day, the whole club steps up to take it all down, repack the van and put it all in storage ready for next year.
Along side the clubs volunteers are the Odd Down GLL Site staff – always helpful, always watchful, keeping the site safe and manning the café.
Bath Lacrosse club thank you all
And here’s to the 2025 tournament on the 6th September 2025 – it will be the 39th Men’s Bath Eights – it would have been the 40th had COVID not intervened. Already thinking about the big four O in 2026 – ideas on a postcard.