Captain Tom Roche lifts the European Box Lacrosse Championship trophy after England's win over Germany in the final — Image Credit: Marek Stor/shutterlax.com

England claimed their first ever major tournament title after they defeated rivals Germany 11-8 in the 2022 European Box Lacrosse Championship final.

Prolific goal-scorers throughout the tournament Elliot Leonard and Matt Marsh bagged themselves a hat-trick each in a tight and tense game at the Eisarena in Hannover, Germany.

It was always going to be a close affair with the nature of England and Germany’s rivalry, Germany playing on home turf, and two top quality teams out of the floor and it was England who started the brighter and found themselves one goal to the good after just 45 seconds when Leonard expertly rolled a Germany defender, dived across the crease and scored.

Despite the powerful start from England, Germany worked their way back into the game, showing their quality, but unable to find the finish until nearly seven minutes in when Justin Wismer ran around the back of the England goal and equalised, seemingly taking goalie Cameron Macleod by surprise.

England continued to play their game and found themselves ahead through Leonard once again who fired one in from 10 yards after being played in by Ben Buchanan.

In games as close and as tight as this one, a two goal lead can be huge and that’s exactly where England found themselves when playing a man up with only a couple of minutes left in the first quarter.

Bunio was able to receive the ball in front of goal, evade two Germany defenders and slot home from just outside the crease to ensure England went into the second quarter 3-1 up.

England were able to really stamp their authority early in the second quarter despite another Wismer goal to cut their lead to one goal as Dan Watson first squeezed one past the Germany goalie before Marsh scored his first with an emphatic high to low finish.

But such is the frenetic nature of box lacrosse that Germany were able to score three without reply at the back end of the quarter to see the sides go in at half-time with the scores perfectly poised at 5-5.

Head Coach, Walt Christianson, impressed upon his team throughout the tournament to remain calm and keep playing their game no matter what and this really paid dividends in the third quarter as England came out after the break and scored three in quick succession.

First, Leonard completed his hat-trick after some lovely movement around the Germany defence, before Tyson Roe drew a defender out of position, allowing Marsh to hit his second from range.

Then, Roe finally got in on the action himself using his strength and speed to blow away two Germany defenders and the deft flick of the wrist to finish was straight out of the top drawer!

Despite England being the dominant force in the third quarter, Germany were not without danger as was proved when they clawed a goal back with England a man down.

But England weren’t phased by this and, with Marsh eyeing up a hat-trick, they always looked dangerous on the attack.

And with five to go before quarter time, Marsh scored his third to complete his hat-trick after some lovely work around the crease from Watson and Bunio allowed the England attacker the space to shoot.

England’s job was made slightly harder just before the end of the third quarter when Dan Watson was ejected from the game for committing a major foul on a Germany defender leaving England without one of their start attackers for the final 15 minutes.

Despite the set-back with Watson, England came out for the fourth and final quarter with determination to hold onto their lead and replied to Germany’s seventh through Leonhard Nöring with two goals to effectively put the game to bed.

Bunio was able to squeeze a shot past the goalie as he was falling to the ground just outside the crease before Groves hit one for the cameras as he received a pass, ran at goal, jumped across the crease and finished with aplomb!

A late Germany goal wasn’t enough to galvanise a true comeback from the opposition and England held on for the win and their first ever major tournament title in the box lacrosse format.

You can relive the game in full HERE.

England Points: Lyndon Bunio (2G 4A), Dave Groves (1G 2A), Elliot Leonard (3G 1A), Matt Marsh (3G), Tyson Roe (1G), Dan Watson (1G).

Saturday 6 August Results