Tight game goes in favour of the Welsh
Bath v Cardiff Harlequins
Cotswolds League Div 1
Date: 16th November 2024
Final Score Bath 10:11 Cardiff Harlequins
Bath’s record against Cardiff isn’t a pretty read, Won 4, Drawn 2, Lost 13 since the first game between the two clubs on the 6th October2007. Ironically the first game was a win for Bath 11:10, the reverse of the latest score line.
Bath fielded a small but useful, well balance team, the only area not covered being at face off as the regular players were unavailable. Mike Carey and Luke Wilmot stepped in and did a great job, possibly just edging the win loss statistic.
The first half saw both teams play some good lacrosse, moving the ball effectively and making both keepers work between the pipe, had it not been for a clipped upright the game might well have been tied at half time, but Cardiff edged it, going into the break a goal up.
The second half did not start well for the home side, conceding 3 quick goals in as many minutes, one mad goal was swept in as the Cardiff player sprawled on the floor. Bath looked a little shell shocked, and it required a time out to calm things down, which Bath did, and set about clawing back the 4 goal deficit.
At the back OB Tanasen was having a storming game, coming up with the ball time and time again, this seemed to rub off on the rest of the defence who began to control the Cardiff attack, but not before keeper Will Tilsen pulled of 5 rapid saves to stop the rot, one on the move across the face of the goal after blocking two shots from the right.
Going into the last quarter the home side were 3 down, and Cardiff, with a bigger squad, were looking to retain the ball and consolidate, the keepers again dominated and neither team looked like scoring a lot of goals. But two goals from Alex George, one from a long cut and the other from a right post sneak narrowed the game to one goal to put the pressure on the visitors.
An almost identical move from Bath on the next attack should have levelled, but the keeper pulled off a great save and immediately set up a fast break which put Cardiff two ahead and into the last 2 minutes of the game and the dreaded stopping clock.
A quick win at the face and a goal from the resulting attack, again, closed the gap to one goal, Bath were working hard and there was an air of confidence. Wilmot won the resulting face and Bath set up to try to equalise, but with around 40 seconds left Cardiff got hold possession and took the ball to the wrong end of the pitch from Bath’s point of view.
Cardiff tried to retain possession, but Tanasen threw a great check and Tilsen managed to get hold of the ball in the crease with seconds on the clock, a quick clear found George on the halfway line, three paces and he fired the ball to Wilmot, up front, and plenty of space to shoot, as the ball left Wilmots stick, heading into the Cardiff goal, referee Peach blew the whistle; no goal, Bath hearts broken, Cardiff relieved.
Bath have been playing some good lacrosse making less mistakes as the season had progressed. If the mighty red can field similar teams for the rest of the season there is no reason not to expect a top two or three spot, maybe even top, in one of the divisions.
MVP – OB Tanasen
Photos on Facebook CLICK
Quarter Scores
1st quarter Bath 2:3 Cardiff Harlequins
Carey, Wilmot
2nd quarter Bath 3:3 Cardiff Harlequins
Wilmot, Lovett, Lovett
3rd quarter Bath 2:4 Cardiff Harlequins
Lovett, Wilmot
4th quarter Bath 3:1 Cardiff Harlequins
George, George, Carey
Final Score Bath 10:11 Cardiff Harlequins
Scorers (Assists)
Mike Carey 2 (2)
Luke Wilmot 3
Mark Lovett 3
Alex George 2 (2)
Tom Dexter (2)
Patrick Peacock (1)
Referee (s)
Simon Peach – Panel
Mark Cork – Cardiff
CBO
Nik Roberts – Bath