English sides do the double at European Club Championships
Mellor Men and Centaurs Women both became 2026 European Club Champions with success at the Ken Galluccio Cup in Prague at the weekend.
Both teams completed the tournament with perfect 100% records throughout the group and knockout stages, culminating with victories in their respective finals to see Mellor gain their first European honours and Centaurs retain last year’s crown.
Reigning champions Centaurs were imperious throughout the competition racking up big wins in their group games, 16-3, 22-0 and 9-2 victories putting them top of Group A with a huge +42 goal difference.
A convincing 14-2 win against 2024 winners Rotterdam Jaguars was followed by a repeat of the final from 12 months ago against home Czech team LCC Radotin Girls.
After a tighter opening 15 minutes with the scores tied at 2-2, Centaurs made sure of a of repeat last year’s success pulling away to end up comfortable 9-3 winners and round off a dominant Championship and keep their European crown for another year.
Mellor had a more testing route to the final - after wins against Zurich (10-4) and Rotterdam (6-2), Mellor found themselves 2-5 down against hosts LCC Wolves with 10 minutes to go before a four-goal run turned things around to secure a 6-5 victory.
This was followed a 7-4 win against 1880 Frankfurt which put Mellor ranked 2nd going in to the semi-finals and setting up an immediate rematch against the Germans, ranked 3rd after the group stage.
But it was a far less simple win this time around with Mellor falling 1-4 behind early and still trailing 3-6 at the half.
However, the English champions stepped it up once more and a five-goal shut out second half turned the game on its head and booked Mellor’s spot in the final.
The win set up another match up and final against the hosts LCC Wolves, and a back and forth contest had the scores tied at 4-4 with 10 minutes to play.
But as with their previous matches, it was Mellor who came in clutch when it mattered most, again hitting a three-goal streak to close the game out and take the men’s Championship home.
England international Drew Bickerton also picked the MVP award for his 13 points including two goals and two assists in the final.
Meanwhile Centaurs’ Katie Gray finished as top women’s point scorer at the Championship with 20 goals and two assists.
Men’s Results
Mellor 10-4 Zurich Lions | Group
Mellor 6-2 Rotterdam Jaguars | Group
Mellor 6-5 LCC Wolves | Group
Mellor 7-4 SCF 1880 Frankfurt | Group
Mellor 8-6 SCF 1880 Frankfurt | SF
Mellor 7-4 LCC Wolves | Final
Mellor Top Point Scorers
Drew Wilkinson | 13 (10G, 3A)
Drew Bickerton | 12 (7G, 5A)
Dan Jones | 10 (9G, 1A)
Women’s Results
Centaurs 16-3 Christiania Lacrosse | Group A
Centaurs 22-0 Ghent Gazelles | Group A
Centaurs 9-2 HTHC Hamburg | Group A
Centaurs 14-3 Rotterdam Jaguars | SF
Centaurs 9-3 LCC Girls | Final
Centaurs Top Point Scorers
Katie Gray | 22 (20G, 2A)
Darcey Bance | 14 (5G, 9A)
Molly Male | 9 (7G, 2A)