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Thank you everyone for all your support for the NZBLAX. The team has just recently got back from a successful tour to California. You can read all about here.
The NZBLAX recently toured Melbourne to participate in the Australian State Nationals and at the same time the Footscray Lacrosse International Classic.
The Australian Lacrosse Nationals is a high level, hard fought tournament of Australian State teams: NSW/Queensland, Western Australia, Southern Australia and the hosts Victoria. The tournament was made even harder this year with the inclusion of the touring English Women’s Lacrosse team. With the Australian state teams loaded with players from the Australian team ranked 3rd in the World and England ranked 4th in the World the tour was always going to be a big step up for the NZBLAX. And so it proved to be. The NZBLAX able to secure 1 win against NSW/QLD but were on the wrong side of some big losses against the other states and England. That said, the team will come away clear on the standard of lacrosse required to be a competitive at the highest international level.
The Footscray Lacrosse International Classic this year was played between Footscray Lacrosse Club, New Zealand, Hong Kong and a Touring American College Selection. Whilst the NZBLAX lost to the American College Selection in the first round, they secured victories against Hong Kong and Footscray Lacrosse Club which put them into the final against the team from the USA. The final was a nail biter with the NZBLAX securing a 1 goal win in extra time.
The NZBLAX were looking to the tournaments to provide a yardstick for progress made in their preparations for the FIL Women’s Lacrosse World Cup in England in July 2017. To this end the tour was a success.
Tour Co-Captain Sonjah Yaw says “The tour was another great opportunity for the NZBLAX to test where we’re at with some world class competition. We have grown much closer as a team and it was awesome being able to have almost everyone back together.” The other co-captain Kate McLain says “Touring opportunities like this really point out our strengths and vulnerabilities in a way that training on home turf cannot. We are grateful for the opportunity to play in Australia and to come up against some fantastic teams.”
The team arrived back in NZ tired after a full on second training phase in their build-up but clear on what progress is required from the time remaining.
4th June:
New Zealand 1 – England 17
FLIC: New Zealand 13 – Hong Kong 2
5th June:
ASN: New Zealand 2 – Victoria 20
FLIC: New Zealand 11 – Footscray Lacrosse Club 8
6th June:
ASN: New Zealand 6 – Western Australia 11
FLIC: New Zealand 4 – USA College Selection 6
ASN: New Zealand 1 – South Australia 16
7th June:
ASN: New Zealand 18 – NSW/QLD 3
FLIC Final (Overtime:) New Zealand 8 – USA College Selection 7
8th June:
Test: New Zealand 2 – England 14
Test: New Zealand 18 – Hong Kong 0
