Women's Clean Sweep at 2019 Home Internationals

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Four wins on the final day gave England a clean sweep of the Women’s competitions at the 2019 Home Internationals.

The two senior and two junior sides all retained the titles won last year in Edinburgh on a successful Sunday of action in Aldershot.

The Senior A side rounded off a commanding weekend of performances with 17-4 victory against Scotland.

It took eight minutes for the first goal to come through an Anna Featherstone free position, after which England hit their stride and displayed their attacking prowess once again.

Laura Merrifield was particularly dominant in the first-half bagging a hat-trick, displaying her characteristic surging midfield drives to goal and five others picking up a goal each for 9-0 shut-out lead at the interval.

The one-way traffic continued in Q3 with another four goals, including one for Lucy Lynch on the day in which she became England Women’s most capped international of all-time.

It wasn’t until the final quarter that Scotland finally registered through Chloe Carruthers, and a 4-4 Q4 made for competitive viewing right until the end, with the two final England goals scored by Tilly Shires capping off an impressive performance from the Durham University youngster, giving her five for the match and leading point scorer for the game.

Final: England 17-4 Scotland

England Scorers: Tilly Shires (5,0), Laura Merrifield (3,1), Anna Featherstone (2,0), Camilla Hayes (2,0), Torz Anderson (1,2), Kirsten Lafferty (1,1), Lucy Lynch (1,1), Tilly Foster (1,0), Liv Wimpenny (1,0), Jenny Simpson (0,2), Alex Drewe (0,1)

In the Senior B competition, England faced Wales in a winner takes all clash with both teams having previously defeated Scotland.

It was a generally cagey affair with defences on top and possession important in grinding out the win.

Both of the first two quarters went 2-1 in England’s favour with a brace for Sophie Tamblyn and efforts from Hannah Bray and Philly Stacey.

In the second-half, England tightened up the defence even further, forcing a two blank quarters for Wales while steadily adding five more across the last 30 minutes.

Tamblyn, Bray and Stacey were all back in the goals again, along with Chloe Wyner who wrapped up the scoring as the hosts ran out 9-2 winners.

Final: England 9-2 Wales

Sophie Tamblyn 3, Hannah Bray 2, Philly Stacey 2, Chloe Wyner 1

All eyes for the Under 19 A tournament were on the morning match between Scotland and Wales, which would ultimately determine the winners with all three sides in with a chance.

In a thrilling contest Scotland edged out Wales 10-9 to give all three teams a 1-1 record.

However, courtesy of England’s big 14-3 over Scotland the day before, the hosts topped the standings on International Goal Rule Formula.

Knowing they had already won the competition, the girls still went out against guest nation Germany determined to finish on a high and duly delivered another assured performance.

Mai Ledsham, who was prolific in attack all weekend, led with another four goals as England streaked into an 8-1 lead at the half.

It was a much more even contest after the break with Germany picking up another three goals but the damage had been done in the first half and the girls were able to run out 11-4 winners.

Final: England 11-4 Wales

England Scorers: Mai Ledsham (4,0), Amelia Hatlapa (2,0), Bryony Smith (2,0), Izzy Cloke (1,1), Ella Malik (1,0), Emily Oram (1,0), Ella Atkinson (0,1), Anna Neville (0,1), Mia Rogers (0,1)

The U19 B team also faced a winner takes all match against Wales.  The girls on the front foot from the off again racing into a 4-1 lead at ¼ time and maintaining their dominance throughout.

Sofia Wise and Bella Baylis led the way with four goals each as a 7-2 first-half was perfectly mimicked after the interval for England to run out 14-4 and completing the Women’s clean sweep.

Final: England 14-4 Wales

England Scorers: Sofia Wise (4,1), Bella Baylis (4,0) Izzy Brand (2,1), Issy Devine (1,2), Anna Boyne (1,1), Coco Harpin (1,0), Zoe Lovibond (1,0)

After being pipped by Scotland in their first match, the Senior Men went into Sunday’s match against Wales needing a five-goal win to claim the Men’s Home Internationals.

However, as with the Scotland match, it became apparent it was to be another low scoring, nip-tuck match with no side ever more than one goal up.

England opened the scoring, Michael Pomfret doing well to get a pass away falling after a push to Joe Baythorpe to set things rolling.

But throughout the match, Wales had a knack of responding every time they conceded, Williams responding immediately as the first quarter drew to a close.

England started Q2 well and were much more dominant in possession, Leonard, Watson and Pomfret all having efforts but unable to breakthrough.

And instead, Wales broke against the run of play to go 1-2 ahead.

Dan Watson did then coolly respond coming around the crease to score high across the ‘keeper, but another response from Wales gave them a half-time advantage.

After the half, England came out and played some of their best lacrosse of the weekend, moving the ball at a higher tempo and shifting around the Wales defence.

Jake Parker tied things up, before Watson was on the end of a slick passing move to give England the lead once more.

There were opportunities for England to go further in front but Casey Hughes was having a strong game between the pipes and ultimately kept his side in the game going into the 4th quarter.

Wales levelled soon after the restart, before a two-man penalty against them allowed David Groves to put England up once more.

However, the instant reply came again to send the match into overtime and a golden goal situation.

Both teams could have won it in OT1, as ‘keepers Dwobeng and Hughes both pulled off saves, but it in the second period it was a diving finish from Williams to connect as the ball was fizzed towards the crease that sealed Wales victory against the youthful England side and the Home Internationals title.