Bath v Hilcroft

We traveled to London Saturday to face Hilcroft for a league match. My friend from Buffalo, Richie "The Baby Baby" Sasala, who is studying at Galway University in Ireland, came to play and visit for the weekend. The game was fun although we lost 9 to 4. I got thoroughly embarrassed as you'll read in Nik's report later.

After last weeks poor show, where they made Purley look good, Bath needed to prove to themselves more than anything else that they are a good Lacrosse team, capable of playing at this level. Although Hillcroft came out winners the West country outfit competed in every department, and had it not been for some good goal keeping from Hillcroft''s Steve Flint, and the posts (4 times) the game might have been a lot closer. Bath if anything were guilty of giving too much respect to the South London team, mainly due to the fact that they had beaten Purley and drawn with Hampstead, both of which had taken Bath on quite easily. The midfield ran their socks off, and scored all the Bath goals, with Doug Mackey getting a brace, proving that when he has a mind to he's as good as anything in the premiership. Hillcroft are a hard physical side, and in general much maligned for being dirty, unfortunately, their American Defender was guilty of a few late, and cheap shots, while the referee was unsighted. Basically the better team won, and Bath were always in the game. However Bath must kick themselves after Hillcroft made them look silly with the old 'dummy the ball in the net' ploy, well executed as the whole Bath defence concentrated on the player without the ball. One highlight was the contribution made by Ed Ward, who had open of his best games. Quote of the day:'The post is all part of my armoury' Steve Flint, Hillcroft. Duck of the Day:Coach Mike Brand who dropped to the submissive squat position, thinking the Hillcroft player was about to shoot, after the fake, the guy just walked past. 'I might like the team, but I'm not going to die for it' was Mikes defence.