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Aussielax Callum Robinson
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We Are The Champions: Aussie Lacrosse Update

There is excellent lacrosse being played all across the world, and Australia is no exception! See below for Championship Recaps (and huge upsets!), All-Star Teams, WA and SA Fairest and Best winners, and even some rumblings about Box Lacrosse!

American Wins Fairest & Best in SA!

EN: Australia offers up a fairest and best award at the end of each season, and while the play on the field counts for a lot, it’s not exactly like an MVP award… there is just more to it than that, and it is a huge honor to garner these accolades.

Al Escalante has been playing for the Sturt Devils in South Australia and he sent over a little blurb on an American winning the F&B award in South Australia!

A fellow Yankee won the Best and fairest medal for 2012 by the South Australia Lacrosse Association. He played here in Australia for the Burside Lacrosse Club and was a Midfield face off specialist. His name is Matt Pullara, and I believe he is from from Littleton, Colorado and graduated from Wooster College.

Congrats to Matt on the Fairest and Best, and thanks to Al for sending that over!

matt_pullara
Pullara (right) picking up the hardware.

Western Australia Premiership Winners

by Shendelle Oliver

The Lacrosse WA grand finals were played on Saturday, the 22nd of September, at Halliday Park with Men’s and Women’s State League and Division 2 teams competing, as well as the Men’s Division 3. This was the first time in Lacrosse WA history the men’s and women’s grand finals were played on the same day. The Bayswater Lacrosse Club hosted the 2012 championship games.

In the Women’s State League final, Wembley defeated minor premiers, East Fremantle. The game
was opened with a goal scored by Bec Bowland Curtis from East Fremantle but Wembley answered with a goal from Bec Banyard. At half time Wembley led 7-3. After half time, the flood gates opened for Wembley with goals scored by Hayley Simpson, Hannah Barnsley, Emily Hall, Sally Banyard and Amanda Plummer notching up nine goals between them in the second half. The match ended with Jo Ward from East Fremantle scoring in the dieing minutes of the game.

The Final score was 16-7. MVP was midfielder Hannah Barnsley from Wembley who scored a
massive five goals. Wembley’s Sarah Forbes said, “This is such a fantastic result for our team. We were well prepared coming into the match and we put it all together on the day. Everyone played their role and this resulted in our best game of the season.

In the Men’s State League Grand Final, the home side, Bayswater, defeated Wembley. Wembley has won the last four premierships and Bayswater were out to get them – and they did. At the end of the first half Wembley lead 6-3. After the half time break Bayswater came alive. Bayswater dominated the face-off to turn the game around.

bayswater_lc
Congratulations to Bayswater. Welcome back Wazza!

At three quarter time Bayswater led 9-6. In the fourth quarter Bayswater seemed to be unstoppable scoring anther four goals, with Wembley adding 3. The final Score was 13-9 and Jesse Bowland-Curtis from Bayswater was named MVP of the match.

Bayswater’s Captain (and longtime friend of LAS!), Glenn Morley said, “Wembley have been a fantastic side for many years, and we take our hat off to their accomplishments of 4 straight premierships, but it was a great win for Bayswater and not just the boys that played in the team but the whole club. I couldn’t be more proud of all the boys who made a lot of sacrifices over the course of a long season, and it is a reward for their effort and discipline.”

morley_family_lacrosse
Three generations of Morleys. Congrats, gents!

In the Men’s Division 2 grand final Wanneroo defeated Bayswater 11-10 and Lachlan Walker
from Wanneroo was named MVP. In the Women’s Division 2 the all-Wembley derby was won
by Wembley Rays who defeated their club-mates, the Wembley Dolphins. Wembley Rays coach
Amanda Plummer said, “It was an incredible show down of two amazing Wembley teams! We gave it everything we had and the best team won on the day.” Sadly during the match Alison Smith from the Rays tore her ACL and will require surgery.

Men’s Division 3 saw Phoenix defeated by Wembley in sudden death over time in an incredibly exciting game. Years ago, Phoenix lacked a men’s club and it is great to see such a resurgence there!

For more information about Lacrosse in Western Australia visit www.lacrossewa.com.au Lacrosse WA is proudly supported by Healthway, to promote the Smarter than Smoking message.

Western Australia Fairest & Best

by Shendelle Oliver

Callum Robinson (now playing at Stevenson University) and Hannah Barnsley, both from the Wembley Lacrosse Club, were named WA’s Fairest and Best players at the West Australian Lacrosse Gala Dinner.

Defender Callum Robinson was unable to accept his award in person as he relocated to the USA
in late August to pursue a college scholarship, and focus more on his lacrosse career at Stevenson
University. When Robinson, from Sorrento, found out from his team mates via Facebook that he was WA’s latest Fairest and Best winner he was sitting in a lecture at his new college.

Aussielax Callum Robinson

Callum’s initial reaction was, “I just ran out of class screaming! Absolutely stoked!” Since then Robinson says, “I was truly blown awayand honored by the accolade. To think of the people that have received the award before me, it will be very humbling to have my name mounted on that same trophy. I am very privileged to be able to finish the season personally, on such a high.”

Wayne “Bucky” Curran from the East Fremantle Lacrosse Club was Runner Up for Fairest and Best. Curran is an attack player and although his team finished fourth this year over-all, Curran still managed to make an impact in every game he played.

For Hannah Barnsley from Innaloo, this is not the first time she has been named Western Australian Women’s Fairest and Best. In 2010 she received this award and also received the MVP medal at the women’s grand final game. Barnsley said, “All of the girls named in the all-star team are incredible players so I am completely shocked and surprised to win this award.”

Runner-Up was Barnsley’s team mate, Bec Banyard who collects runner up for the second year in a row. Barnsley and Banyard will both travel to San Francisco in early October to compete in the ‘Stars and Stripes International’ where Barsnely will represent England and Banyard will play for Australia. Both players have been selected in the Western Australian team competing in the National Championships in Perth 10-13 October.

Matt Diver of Madely, from the Wembley Lacrosse Club received the Cann Griffin Award for the
highest points scored (from goals and assists). Diver was also third in the race for the men’s State
League Fairest and Best award, which he won in 2011. Diver will represent Western Australia in the 2012 National Championships.

Mens Division 2 Fairest and Best was Lachlan Walker from the Wanneroo Lacrosse Club and Runner up Benn Game from Bayswater. In the Womens, Kate Burns also from the Wanneroo Lacrosse Club took out Fairest and Best and Runner up was Amanda Buchan from the Wembley Lacrosse Club.

Lacrosse WA also recognised and awarded Life Membership to three deserving recipients.
Suzanne Kirkby and Michael Gates from the Bayswater Lacrosse Club and Gary Kennedy from the
East Fremantle Lacrosse Club received Life Membership for distinguished service to Lacrosse WA or to the game of lacrosse over a period of ten (10) years or more.

The following men were selected in the 2012 All-star team: Sam Williams, Dean Lawrence, Adrian White, Shuan Leavy, Callum Robsinson, Lachlan Bunbury, Alex Brown, Matt Diver, Lewis Blackie, Wayne Curran COACH: Mr. Ben Reiger

The following women were selected in the 2012 All-star team: Caitlin Ryan, Rebecca Banyard,
Melanie Goddard, Tammie West, Tegan Brown, Hannah Barnsley, Jess Kennedy, Ashtyn Hiron,
Courtney Ackland, Bec Bowland-Curtis COACH: Mr. Geoff Goddard

Box Lacrosse In Australia?

You know it! When I lived in Australia back in 2001, there wasn’t much box, at least not in Perth, but that seems to be changing quickly. The box lacrosse national championships will be held in Melbourne (Victoria) on December 1st and 2nd, 2012, and it looks like a team of Western Australians will be making the trek over to play.

So far, the biggest issue for the Aussies has been equipment. Box cages, hockey helmets, hard plastic padding and other protective pieces are the most in need. If anyone is interested in going down to Australia to PLAY box lacrosse… hit us up! We just might have a contact for you!

Want To Play Lacrosse In Australia?

If YOU want to go to Australia and play lacrosse, let us know and we’ll get you connected with a team down there!