Flags Weekend Match Reports by Neil Goulding

STOCKPORT crowned a memorable weekend by winning the Daily Telegraph Senior Flags final at Bridgefold Road, Rochdale.
The Beech Road club defeated arch-rivals Heaton Mersey 14-13 in a thrilling finale to the Festival Weekend, avenging their 14-13 overtime defeat in the 2001 final.
And there was plenty more to smile about for the Cheshire club as they won the Boys Under-14 Centurion Cup, Junior Flags and Boys Under-16 Junior & Schools competitions during the two-day annual event in Lancashire.
But it was a nerve-racking victory against Mersey, who pipped Stockport to the North of England League Premier Division title this year by only one point, which really stands out as the club's best achievement in recent years.
"I'm so proud of all the boys," said Ravi Sitlani, the Stockport player-manager. "We always knew it was going to be close and we took our feet off the gas after a great start, but everyone was pumped up for it and we hung in there.
"This title is the biggest team honour in English Lacrosse. I'm ecstatic we've won the Flags, it means so much.
A view shared by England midfielder Paul Fullerton, one of Stockport's co-captains, who led the charge with four goals, the last of which drew his side level at 13-13 with less than a minute remaining.
"We were determined not to let Mersey do the double this year," said Fullerton. "When it got close the pressure was really on, but I knew something had to be done at the end and the green light was there to get the equaliser.
"The discipline this year has been excellent and the pressure was on us. Some of the players did get a bit nervous and jittery, but we stuck in there and it's been a great weekend for the club."
Young attacker Thomas Gosnay (3), Dave Bryant (3), Steve Talbot and Owen Jones were also on the scoresheet for Stockport, but it was Keith Gosnay who scored the winner with a neat finish at the death.
James Gallagher and Matt Beadle continued their fine form this season with four goals each, while Thomas Gallagher (2), Sam Dunwoody and Steve Morley were also on the mark.
But having fought back from 8-2 behind to edge 11-9 ahead, the Oakley Villas club could not stop Stockport from snatching the title.
"We started nervously and fought back well, but all credit to Stockport, they kept fighting and fighting," said Gallagher.
"I'm gutted we lost, but it's been a great season winning the league and also the Stockport Easter Eights. We'll back next year to try and win the Flags."
Other club winners at this year's finals included Oldham, Brooklands Hulmeians, Mellor, Heaton Mersey and Sheffield Steelers.

HEATON Mersey juniors had plenty to smile about as they defeated Sheffield Steelers 9-3 to win the Boys Under-12 Onondaga Cup on the final day of the Flags Festival Weekend in Rochdale.
Jake Leonard was the hero with five goals, while Jim Smith (3) and Dave Hayes were also on the scoresheet as Mersey led 4-1 at half-time and then 5-3 at the end of the third quarter against their South Yorkshire opponents.
Matthew Berisford (2) and Ranga Fernando replied for the Steelers, but four goals in the final quarter made sure Mersey were always in control.
Captains Smith and James Shaw gladly accepted the Cup from Brian Costello, Chairman of the Junior & Schools committee.
It also proved to be a memorable weekend for Stockport juniors as they clinched two titles.
The club's Under-14 Boys triumphed 17-5 against Manchester Waconians in the Centurion Cup final, while Stockport's Under-16 Boys defeated Cheadle 12-11 after overtime in the Junior & Schools final.
Attacker Greg Rowlinson proved to be an important player for both age groups with six goals for the Under-14s on Saturday, followed by four goals for the Under-16 team on the Sunday as they held on after Cheadle fought back to level at 9-9 in the final quarter.
Stockport junior manager Paul Fildes was delighted with his club's showing over the weekend.
"All the lads were up for it and played really well," said Fildes, who also saw Danny Ledger (5), Danny Mellor (3), Jamie Doolan, Nick Jones and Ryan Hussey on the scoresheet.
Midfielder Richard Jones (5) and Tom Patterson (3) scored for Stockport Under-16s, while Luke Bartram (3), Daniel Ives (3), Martin Paterso (2), Ian Robinson (2) and Osian Flowers replied in vain for Cheadle.
In the senior sections Stockport A came back from 4-1 and 5-4 behind to defeat Sheffield Steelers 10-8 in the Junior Flags final, completing a league and cup double this season.
Ian Sanderson top-scored with a hat-trick and Charlie Cox (2), Joe Singleton (2), James Morris, Dave Hindson and Martin Gosnay added the rest, while man-of-the-match Alan Kurpieswki (3), Sam Noble (3), Ben Lyon and captain Mark Coups scored for Sheffield.
Mellor A showed their strength to beat Ashton-under-Lyne 16-12 in the Stockport Cup final having led throughout 6-2, 7-5 and 12-9.
Oldham defeated Wilmslow 2-1 to win the Under-11 Boys Tournament final, while Brooklands Hulmeians won three titles on an excellent weekend for the club.
On Saturday Hulmeians ran out comfortable 16-2 winners against Mellor in the Boys Under-12 Plate final having led 7-2 at half-time and 12-2 by three-quarter time.
And it got even better for the Georges Road club as the B team won the Nigel Wayne Trophy with a 12-5 victory against Manchester Waconians C, and then on the finally day of competition the first team secured a superb 9-6 win against Manchester Waconians in the Lancashire Cup final.
American Andy Slotnik (3), Ashley Finney (3), Alex Middleton, Will Kent and Jeff Kettlewell were all on the mark for the Lancashire Cup winners having powered ahead after being held 2-2 at the end of the first quarter. Hulmeians went on to lead 6-4 and 7-5.
Sheffield Steelers A defeated Mellor B 9-4 to win the David Beesley Cup having fought back from an early goal.

SHEFFIELD Steelers came within inches of winning the Junior Flags title at the North of England Flags Festival Weekend at Bridgefold Road, Rochdale.
But the Abbeydale Sports Club side let slip a 4-1 first quarter lead to allow opponents Stockport A to clinch a 10-8 victory.
American attacker Alan Kurpwieski, the man-of-the-match, and San Noble starred for the Steelers with hat-tricks, but the South Yorkshire side stuttered as Stockport fought back bravely to complete a league and cup double.
Ben Lyon and skipper Mark Coups were also on target for the Steelers, but there efforts proved in vain as a hat-trick from Ian Sanderson and other goals from Joe Singleton (2), Charlie Cox (2), Dave Hindson, James Morris and Martin Gosnay made sure last season's beaten finalists came out on top at the second attempt.
"I was absolutely convinced we were going to win," said Coups. "There were three minutes at the end where the game was there for the taking, but we didn't take our chance.
"We planned to make it a 19-goal final, 10-9 in our favour, but Stockport showed their experience.
"We knew they would come back at us and I'm absolutely gutted we lost. But we've made big strides this year and I'm convinced we will come back and win this competition."
It was not all heartache for the Steelers as the club's A team showed their strength to win the David Beesley Cup final.
The Steelers triumphed 9-4 having trailed to an early goal, recovering to lead 3-2 at half time and then scoring five without reply in the final and deciding quarter to take the spoils.
Sheffield Steelers Boys Under-12 team provided a difficult test for Heaton Mersey in the Onondaga Cup final, but their opponents triumphed 9-3 having led 4-1 and 5-3. Matthew Berisford (2) and Ranga Fernando scored for the Steelers.

MANCHESTER Waconians came within a whisker of winning their first piece of silverware of the season with their very last throw of the dice.
But the Wilmslow Road club were beaten 9-6 by Brooklands Hulmeians in the final of the Lancashire Cup at the North of England League Flags Festival Weekend at Bridgefold Road, Rochdale.
Wacs battled hard to be level at 3-3 after the first quarter, but Hulmeians took control and led 6-4 and 7-5 in the next two quarters before snatching the honours.
"Wacs gave us a great game of lacrosse and the match was played in the right spirit, but we controlled the game from start to finish," said Paul Swan, the delighted Hulmeians coach.
"I think Wacs were a bit surprised with how we played, but I'm so proud of how hard we worked. The lads were excellent and they deserved this."
It proved to be a disappointing weekend for South Manchester's Wacs as two more of their teams were beaten in their respective end of season finals.
Wacs C were beaten 12-5 by Brooklands Hulmeians B in the final of the Nigel Wayne Trophy having trailed 5-2 and 8-4 respectively, while the club's Under-14 Boys team lost 17-5 to Stockport in the Centurion Cup final on the opening day of competition.
This year's competition belonged to Stockport who won four titles in total, shared between the junior and senior age-groups.
Hulmeians also walked away with three titles for their efforts, while other winners on a weekend of high-calibre action, were Oldham, Heaton Mersey and Mellor A.
The only team to retain their title from last year were Stockport Under-16s in their Junior & Schools Cup final triumph over Cheadle, who they defeated 12-11 after overtime. Stockport defeated Wilmslow 7-4 in last year's showcase.