A few days after the end of term, a select band of sesh warriors reconvened in Lancaster for 4 days of pre-tour, before heading to Lloret de Mar in sunny spain. You can read all about what went down in England and mainland Europe in Haggis' tour review
Tour review
Gaston's 1st XI Season Review
This season has been full of positives for the 1st XI but may be remembered for being a season of missed opportunities, just missing out on promotion in both the Wednesday and Saturday Leagues. The 1st team started the first game of the season with more 3rd team players than 1st team in the side and ended losing the game 7-5, and although a vastly different side for the rest of the season, the goals kept on coming throughout.
Three losses out of the first four games in the Saturday league meant that it would always be difficult to gain promotion, however the side were 3rd at Christmas, only a couple of points behind 2nd-placed Rochdale. After being relegated in the 2015-16 season the first team were confident of bouncing back to BUCS Division 1A with this year’s intake of freshers. Resounding wins against Keele, Bangor and Manchester Met meant that Lancaster were top of the league in the early stages of the season.
The freshers may have hit the ground running with their hockey, however it’s taken almost the whole season for many of them to get into the true spirit of the club. The sesh gremlin that is Beryl quickly got involved but it was not until the first away day in week 6 that the other freshers began to come out of their shells. Phil was born, and the eyebrows went crazy after the first game of 21s on the bus back from Man Met.
The three games against Liverpool John Moore was where the possibility of a league and cup double were lost. A poor performance on the fast home turf is arguably the game which was the most disappointing of the season, conceding 3 early goals. The two other fixtures, played at John Moore on a much slower pitch both ended in disappointment. The first was in the cup, losing on penalties, whilst the final game of the BUCS season saw a 6-4 loss with only a win meaning promotion.
It was not until the final Wednesday game of the season that the whole side attended a social though, and finally the side could see Bertie in Party mode.
A season which promised so much at the start of the season, the first team are the only side not to win anything this season. With one game remaining it’s crucial that the side win Roses to fulfil some of that potential. With Buster at the helm next season I am confident, with a good fresher intake, that the first team will gain promotion in both leagues and have a successful cup run.
Three losses out of the first four games in the Saturday league meant that it would always be difficult to gain promotion, however the side were 3rd at Christmas, only a couple of points behind 2nd-placed Rochdale. After being relegated in the 2015-16 season the first team were confident of bouncing back to BUCS Division 1A with this year’s intake of freshers. Resounding wins against Keele, Bangor and Manchester Met meant that Lancaster were top of the league in the early stages of the season.
The freshers may have hit the ground running with their hockey, however it’s taken almost the whole season for many of them to get into the true spirit of the club. The sesh gremlin that is Beryl quickly got involved but it was not until the first away day in week 6 that the other freshers began to come out of their shells. Phil was born, and the eyebrows went crazy after the first game of 21s on the bus back from Man Met.
The three games against Liverpool John Moore was where the possibility of a league and cup double were lost. A poor performance on the fast home turf is arguably the game which was the most disappointing of the season, conceding 3 early goals. The two other fixtures, played at John Moore on a much slower pitch both ended in disappointment. The first was in the cup, losing on penalties, whilst the final game of the BUCS season saw a 6-4 loss with only a win meaning promotion.
It was not until the final Wednesday game of the season that the whole side attended a social though, and finally the side could see Bertie in Party mode.
A season which promised so much at the start of the season, the first team are the only side not to win anything this season. With one game remaining it’s crucial that the side win Roses to fulfil some of that potential. With Buster at the helm next season I am confident, with a good fresher intake, that the first team will gain promotion in both leagues and have a successful cup run.
The boys are back in town
After an extended Easter break either in Lloret de Mar, at home, or slaving away in Lancaster, the boys are back in town for a week of intense pre-Roses training. Starting on the Tuesday, training is planned every day of the week, including an indoor session on Sunday. After an impressive BUCS campaign and with a realistic chance of success in York in two weeks time, the guys know that a week of hard graft will contribute towards success at Roses. Especially with the 3rd XI's playoff (more on that below) built into the week, it could be a decisive few days in deciding whether the Red or White Rose prevails next weekend.
Big game preview - 3rd XI promotion playoff vs Liverpool John Moore
Who would have thought at the start of the year that the 3rd XI would be in a promotion playoff and in with a serious chance of beating York at Roses. However, since that 6-0 Roses loss last year, things have only improved for the Pride. A stellar BUCS campaign saw them finish top of their division to defy all expectations. The defence was particularly unyielding, only conceding a league goal for the first time after Christmas. The league title was secured with an emphatic 6-0 win away at UCLan, and the boys were only denied a 100% season by the Imperial Wizard, as his Bolton side inflicted their only loss of the season on the final matchday. Nevertheless, the league title belonged to Lancaster, meaning that they now enter a two-legged promotion playoff with Liverpool John Moore 2nd XI.
LUMHC vs Liverpool John Moore has become a recurring fixture this season, with both 1st XIs facing off in Division 2A and the cup. Unfortunately, Liverpool prevailed on all three occasions, something the Pride are looking to put right this time around. With the first leg this Wednesday in Lancaster, the boys will be looking to put down a marker not just for the second leg, but also for Roses, with the second leg taking place a few days after their clash with York. Looking to keep it tight in Lancaster and rely on the defensive solidity that has served them so well during the season, the 3rd XI will be banking on vociferous support from the sidelines to will them to victory as well.
Pushback is at 3:30 on Wednesday, check out the Facebook event if you want to know more details
LUMHC vs Liverpool John Moore has become a recurring fixture this season, with both 1st XIs facing off in Division 2A and the cup. Unfortunately, Liverpool prevailed on all three occasions, something the Pride are looking to put right this time around. With the first leg this Wednesday in Lancaster, the boys will be looking to put down a marker not just for the second leg, but also for Roses, with the second leg taking place a few days after their clash with York. Looking to keep it tight in Lancaster and rely on the defensive solidity that has served them so well during the season, the 3rd XI will be banking on vociferous support from the sidelines to will them to victory as well.
Pushback is at 3:30 on Wednesday, check out the Facebook event if you want to know more details
