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Western Australia Grand Final Recap

Editor’s Note: Shendelle Oliver returns to LAS to bring us a great update and photos from Grand Final Day in Western Australia! It was a muddy affair, but the teams all brought their best efforts in hopes of taking home the WA Premierships!

Wembley and Bayswater Celebrate Winning State Championships 

Championship Fever hit Western Australia Lacrosse on Saturday September 14, which was one of the wettest, rainiest days for Lacrosse in Western Australian history. It was also Grand Final Day! Players literally did battle in a mud bath to claim their victories.

Mens D1 GF

In the Men’s Division 1 Championship game, 2012 Premiership winners Bayswater dominated the game, defeating East Fremantle 13-9 to win back to back titles. At quarter time East Fremantle led 2-0, but Bayswater were up in the shot count 11-10. After a very solid 7-1 second quarter run, Bayswater took the lead at half time with a score of 7-3. East Fremantle’s only goal of the second quarter came off a broken play when the Bayswater defense faltered momentarily.

The third quarter saw Bayswater hold a lot of possession and were able to capitalise with some good offence and shooting. At the three-quarter-time break Bayswater continued to lead 11-5. The last quarter was riddled with mistakes by the Bayswater men, which gave East Fremantle momentum, however with Bayswater Face-off star Jesse Bowland-Curtis dominating in the face offs they were able to steady the ship and finish with a comfortable 13-9 win.

BLC D1

Bayswater Coach Glenn Morley said:

It’s a great feeling going back to back – which is a feat that no Baysie team has ever done before. Our best players also stood up for big games on the Day, with Jesse Bowland-Curtis running around 85-90% on faceoffs while chipping in 4 goals and 2 assists. Thomas Graham was also back on the scoreboard after a surprisingly quiet Semi Final with 2 goals. Lewis Blackie and Max Rowse both dominated their match ups in attack with 2 and 3 goals respectively. At the other end it was a team effort with the close defenders all playing solid games on their opponents, and Warren Brown saving anything that wasn’t a lay-up.

Unfortunately East Fremantle midfield superstar Brad Goddard tore ligaments in his ankle after a fall in the mud and is predicted to be sidelined for some time. We wish him a speedy recovery moving forward.

In the Women’s Division 1 Final, reigning champions Wembley defeated East Fremantle by a goal in overtime with a score of 7-6. The Wembley women now have won 3 championships back to back.

Womens D1GF1

 

In the first period of overtime play Wembley’s Chloe Jacoumis was able to convert, scoring the winning goal and becoming the hero of the Wembley team. Wembley Captain Bec Banyard said:

We’ve trained so hard all season but nothing could have prepared us for today’s weather conditions. Both teams played their hearts out but I am so proud of our team for what we have achieved this season.

At the end of the game West Australian and East Fremantle Captain, Melanie Goddard announced her retirement as she has decided to hang up the boots after a stellar career. Goddard will be truly missed by the WA Lacrosse community.

Siblings Jesse & Rebecca Bowland-Curtis were named Kuljac MVP for the Division 1 Men’s and Women’s games. Rebecca represented East Fremantle and Jesse was playing for Bayswater.

Kuljac Jesse & Bec BC

In the Division 2 Grand Finals, Wembley were successors in both the mens and womens game.

The Wembley men’s team defeated Bayswater 9-6 while the women’s Division 2 play-off was a Wembley v Wembley game with the Wembley Rays coming out as victors. Full time score was 10-5. The Wembley Dolphins went into the game as hot favourites but the Rays proved to be the better team on the day and over ran their clubmates.

Mens D2 GF

The winning streak continued for the Wembley Lacrosse Club, with the men’s Division 3 team defeating Phoenix 8-3.

WLC D3