As we gear up for the return of the School Challenge Cup, taking place at Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre on Sunday 14 November 2021, we take a look at the inaugural competition back in 2018.
The Cup was designed to provide an extra level of competition for those school teams who finished in the top places at the annual National Schools Lacrosse Championships.
And in the first edition of the tournament in 2018, six teams including Berkhamsted, Benenden, Moreton Hall, St James, St Helen & St Katharine, and Queen Anne’s, Caversham all competed to be crowned the best lacrosse-playing school in the country.
In another first, the competing schools also had the opportunity to try the new Women’s World Lacrosse rules in competition, including 10-aside teams, over the 40-minute matches.
After the opening match between the top two seeds to decide their semi-final placings in which Berkhamsted overcame Benenden 9-7, the semi-final play-ins took place.
The play-in games resulted in comfortable wins for St Helen & St Katharine (14-5 v Queen Anne’s, Caversham) and Moreton Hall (16-5 v St James); but it was to be the semi-finals where the competition really came alive.
At half-time, both eventual finalists trailed, Benenden leading St Helen & St Katharine 4-2 and Moreton Hall 5-4 up against Berkhamsted, and with six minutes to go it was evens across the board with St Helen & St Katharine clawing back to 7-7 and Berkhamsted to 8-8.
However, Berkhamsted exhibited their superior stamina and staying power that would prove crucial on the day to hit a four-goal run and win 12-8, while St Helen & St Katharine also finished off an impressive comeback to win 10-9.
Before the final, Queen Anne’s took 5th place beating St James 10-5 and Moreton Hall picked up the bronze medals with a strong 13-5 win over Benenden.
As predicted going into the final, it was a nip-tuck affair with both sides trading goals in a match that turned into a real high-level contest as the girls responded well to the new format.
Berkhamsted held a 6-5 lead at the half and then with the scores at 7-6, a crucial thirty-second period set the platform for Berkhamsted to take the title.
At the one end, St Helen & St Katharine rattled a shot off the post and from the resulting loose ball and break their opposition pushed another goal ahead.
Berkhamsted carried the momentum to put down a four-goal streak and take a commanding advantage they would never relinquish to win 12-8.
Challenge Cup 2018 Full Results
Seeding Match
Berkhamsted 9 - 7 Benenden
Semi-Final Play-ins
Moreton Hall 16 - 5 St James
St Helen & St Katharine 14 - 5 Queen Anne’s, Caversham
Semi-Finals
Berkhamsted 12 - 8 Moreton Hall
St Helen & St Katharine 10 - 9 Benenden
5th/6th
Queen Anne’s, Caversham 10 - 5 St James
3rd/4th
Moreton Hall 13 - 5 Benenden
Final
Berkhamsted 12 - 8 St Helen & St Katharine
If you fancy grabbing yourself free entry to this year’s School Challenge Cup in Aldershot on Sunday 14 November, click the button below.