Boxing Day 2009

Match Reports On Boxing Day  - By Richard Gartside

Many life times ago, the land animals and the birds prepared to clash in an epic game of lacrosse. With the birds positioned high in the tree tops, a rodent attempted to join the team of land animals with the bears, the deer and the wolves. Seeing the tiny rodent, the bears and other animals laughed at the thought of it battling in a lacrosse game.

The Clubs Elders, standing in the bar light at the Hare and Hounds, clutching bellies as they mimic the laughing bear at the thought of Lacrosse being played at Redbrook on the 26th December 2009.

Stunned and rejected but not giving up on the game, the rodent took to the trees, climbing until he stood atop the highest limbs, with the eagles and the hawks. The Birds did not want to shun the little creature, but how could he join the team without wings?

Thinking quickly, the birds cut pieces from the skin on their ceremonial drum and fashioned two wings for the rodent. With both teams set, the game erupted quickly as the ball sprung into the air, and the newly winged rodent wasted no time diving into action.

With stunning agility and the remarkable quickness, the rodent controlled the ball, slashed towards goal and scored, winning the game for the winged creatures.

Like the rodent the players of Rochdale Lacrosse Club refused to listen to the mocking voices and sprung into action to play one of the most enjoyable games seen on the historic boxing day fixture.

Legend says the game of Lacrosse was given by the gods and it is steeped with history and tradition and 30+ years of Rochdale Lacrosse tradition was to continue. The Fastest Game on two feet is meant to be played in the air and 20cm of thick snow sort of makes that a must.

Deck resplendent to US Navel Uniforms, Dress and other less clear costumes the young guns took to the field to face the glorious Blue of the Old Men.

The game was fast, fun and closely fort, the result is not important the fact the game took place is the only result that matters (but as you want to know the Old Men won and I scored five, included a test book reproduction of Gary Gaits famous ‘air gait, and probable the most incredible miss on a open goal the world will ever witness).

‘Eye-opening, crowd-pleasing, all-or-nothing plays like these-shunned by the more conservative members of the game – take the game back to the fun expressive routes where winning was important but playing the game was the be-all-and-end-all’

‘Anon’

Massive thanks must go to Glen and Matty, without their efforts to clear snow of the Crease areas and centre spot the game would have been difficult and all those non players who risked having to send days skidding around that car park just too watch a bunch of idiots having a great time!!!!!