Beach Lax Tops Touring Brits

BERLIN- Beach Lacrosse's under-13 boys team won the British Challenge last weekend, sweeping three games against tough opponents including one of Great Britain's top youth programs on a tour of the mid-Atlantic area.

The Beach Lacrosse under-13 boys team, coached by Brendan Hanley, traveled to Talbot County last weekend to compete in the round-robin tournament and came away with a sweep to win the tourney. Beach beat host Talbot County, Delaware and the Spencer Club, which was in the U.S. on a two-week tour including games against some of the top teams in the Baltimore-Washington area and the mid-Atlantic. The under-14 Spencer Club was runner-up in the national championship in England last year.

Despite the high level of competition, Beach Lacrosse swept its three games in the mini-tournament prompting Hanley to dish out high praise for his young team.

'I have coached for the last eight years and have been involved in lacrosse my entire life and I am most proud of this group because they listen and are learning the true skills needed to play lacrosse as a team sport,' he said. 'They have worked very hard each week to become better players and it showed during this tournament.'

Beach Lacrosse invited the Spencer Club to Worcester for a game during the tour, including a tour of the county and a cookout, but rain washed out most of the activities. Nonetheless, the teams did get a chance to interact and learn a little more about each other in what turned out to be as much of a cultural exchange as a sporting event.

'The interacted and talked to the kids from England about what they like to do, music, sports, favorite foods, etc.,' said Hanley. 'It was awesome.'

The Spencer Club has sent teams to the U.S. for a lacrosse tour for several years. Last year, Talbot Lacrosse hosted the British team and the club visited Worcester three years ago. The British players typically stay with the families of the host teams when they come to the states. Spencer coach Peter Compton said the annual tours allow his young players to learn more about lacrosse and the U.S.

'The trip is a great opportunity for the children to play lacrosse in the nation where the game was conceived,' he said. 'It is also a chance for the squad to see the American way of life close hand and to visit some the U.S.'s famous landmarks.'