The Northern Flags Festival is back this weekend, promising an action-packed showcase of lacrosse as teams from across the region compete for top honours in one of the sport’s most prestigious events.

Held once again at Rochdale Lacrosse Club, the two days of competition features a massive 15 finals taking place across the range of age groups.

The annual festival marks the finale of the knockout competitions for men’s and women’s club teams across the North of England, with a full slate of junior and senior matchups showcasing the best of the regions talents.

The Men’s Senior Flags final will see Premier league champions Poynton face Brooklands as the Blackbirds go in search of a league and flags double.

In a generally tight and unpredictable league season, Poynton were the runaway standout side finishing with a 13-1 win record scoring 200 goals and finishing with a huge +105 goal difference.

However, that single blemish on the Poynton record was delivered at the hands of Sunday’s opponents Brooklands who beat the future champions 10-9 at Poynton back in February.

Brooklands finished the league season in 3rd place, on the same points as runners-up Cheadle, but just missing out on goal difference with an overall 8-5 winning record, plus one draw.

A win for Poynton in the final would give them a first flags success since their historic four-peat run that stretched from 2016-2019 in four memorable repeat finals against Cheadle.

Meanwhile, Brooklands are chasing their first ever Senior Flags win under their current name, though of course the club was hugely successful under the former title of Old Hulmeians, winning 13 Senior Flags in total from their first in 1907 through to the last win in 1976.

In the Women’s Senior Flags, Stockport will be out to retain the title they earned last year against Mellor, this year taking on Timperley in the showpiece final.

Stockport pulled off an impressive 12-11 semi-final victory over Oxton to make this year’s final, while Timperley downed last year’s finalists Mellor 11-8 to secure their spot.

We look set for a closely contested final this year, as while Stockport did win their most recent league meeting back in March 12-9, the first league fixture between the sides ended in a 12-12 draw.

The Flags Festival this year continues to champion the women’s and girls’ matches across the weekend, now with five women’s lacrosse finals to take place from the U13s through to the Women’s Senior Flags alongside the 10 Mens’ and Boys’ finals.

Spectator entry for each day:
Adults £8
Ages 12-16 £3
Under 12s FREE
Official Car parking is also available onsite at £2.

Rochdale Lacrosse Club, Bridgefold Road, Rochdale, OL11 5BS

2025 Northern Flags Festival full schedule:

Saturday 27 April

09:30 – Boys U12 Plate - Brooklands x Heaton Mersey
10:00 – Girls U13 Cup - Oxton x Boardman & Eccles Red
11:30 – Boys U14 Centurion Cup – Heaton Mersey x Mellor
12:00 - Women’s Junior Flags – Brooklands x Wilmsbury
13:30 – Boys U16 Juniors & Schools North Cup – Stockport/Sheffield x Heaton Mersey
14:00 – Girls U18 Cup – Oxton x Timperley
15:30 - David Beesley Cup – Brooklands A x Poynton A
16:00 - Men’s Junior Flags - Wilmslow x Cheadle A

Sunday 28 April

09:30 – Boys U14 Plate - Rochdale x Timperley
10:00 – Boys U12 Onondaga Cup - Stockport x Mellor
11:30 – Girls U15 Cup – Oxton Purple x Stockport
12:00 – Boys U16 Plate – Cheadle x Mellor
13:30 - Women’s Senior Flags - Stockport x Timperley
14:00 - Nigel Wayne Trophy – Mellor B x Cheadle C
15:30 – Men’s Senior Flags - Poynton x Brooklands