Centurion SEMLA Sixes

[Blind Zebra]

So far the following teams are entered in the SEMLA Centurion Sixes
Senior: Spencer, Hitchin, Blues
Intermediate: Croydon, Spencer, Blues, Maidstone.
Minor: Welwyn, Spencer, Blues, Cheltenham.

Hopefully there are a few more still to come. The entry form can be
found on http://www.centurionlacrosse.org.uk.

BeeZee.

[jonfast]

Any update on more teams?

[Chilli]

We now have 4 Senior, 7 Intermediate and 8 Minor

[Blind Zebra]

4 Senior, 8 Intermediate, 8 Minor.

Final confirmation Thursday - in case of drop outs.

Schedules Friday.

Anyone fancy £50 for refing?

BeeZee.

[Princess]

Any updates?

[Blind Zebra]

The entrants are:

Senior
Hitchin
Spencer
Blues
Welwyn

Intermediate Div 1
Buckhurst Hill
Croydon
EG
Hillcroft
Intertmediate Div 2
Portsmouth U
Spencer 2
Blues 2
Welwyn 2

Minor Div 1
Cheltenham
EG 2
Maidstone
Norwich
Minor Div 2
Portsmouth U 2
Spencer 3
Blues 3
Welwyn 3

Intermediate and Minor will play Quarter and Semi Finals

Senior will play Semi Finals.

Bath v Purley at 3.30pm.

BeeZee.

[S_24_LAX]

What time are the first games please Rob

[Blind Zebra]

Register by 11.00am

First Games at 11.30am

BeeZee.

[Blind Zebra]

Following the withdrawal of The Blues first team the Senior Division was reduced to three teams which is too few to run the tournament. As a result the Senior Sixes has been cancelled.

Intermediate Sixes are being rescheduled following EG's withdrawal as it will now be possible to provide more games for those present.

Minor Sixes are fine.

Be there by 11.00

BeeZee.

[J-Lo]

Sixes used to be a great day out.

Preferred it at Cryodon rather than blues though.

What's happened to it? Do people not value it any more?

[rjholmesy]

Don't get why they have to be split out, and so the Senior competition gets cancelled.

Stockport and Bath 8's both run with a mixed round robin tournament, and then the divisions are split when it comes to semi's and finals, with the top teams in each of the Senior / Inter / Minor from the round robin going forward.

There is significant variance in experience and ability across both the tournaments so why the difference in the South??

Disappointing turnout from the senior teams, but for me still could have gone ahead. Could have just put the 3 senior teams in the mix, more games to be played and an opportunity for those in lower leagues to test themselves, then split them out for finals.

You have the field / refs etc sorted, 20+ disappointed players this weekend...........

[Dino]

So I presume this means that Purley retain the Sixes trophy/championship by default as winners from last year?

We wanted and offered to enter to play in the tournament this year from the outset to defend, but were told we weren't allowed to compete because it clashed with the play off game.

We offered to move the date of the play off game and looking at the current situation I guess this probably would have allowed the tournament to continue.

If you find yourself bored today due to the lack of Lax then come watch the Purley v Bath play-off game at Blues (face off at 3:30).

Such a pity.

[J-Lo]

I see why it's not popular anymore.

Even if you win every game,, you'll still end up playing less than 80mins of lacrosse.

In my eyes that's not really worth the travel, cost, or the whole day.

[mandy]

Sixes used to be a great day out.

Preferred it at Cryodon rather than blues though.

What's happened to it? Do people not value it any more?

It's a long way and a long day for many teams to travel for 40 or 50 mins of lacrosse.

Probably the reason almost all of the teams entered are from the East leagues. Looking at it 3 teams from the West took part (or were due to) - 2 from pompey (who are probably closer to blues than a fair few East teams) and Cheltenham.

[ww40]

I disagree with most of this. I think the sixes is not just about playing time, while its all a lot of fun and there is a serious side to the competition, obviously everyone wants to win! But for me the sixes is about more than just the actual contest itself. It was difficult yesterday and always will be in crap weather with everyone feeling cold wet and miserable, but to me the sixes is all about getting the community together. Events like the sixes draw our Lacrosse community together and allow a chance for you to see old opponents, old team mates and people you just generally know through playing lacrosse and catch up. It's all set to the backdrop of a competition, which obviously if you enter a team you want to win, but there's other aspects to the day.

For me the reason I turn up to the sixes every year is as much about the social side as it is the actual lacrosse.

Just my two cents.

[Chilli]

It was obviously disappointing that the attendance was down on previous years and the weather made this year's event more of a trial of endurance than a pleasure.

However, we must bear in mind that for many years the Sixes was the only end of season tournament and there was nothing at all anywhere in the UK until the Bath 8s, so it was a last hurrah for the season.

Over the last ten years the world of European lacrosse has changed beyond recognition there are now tournaments almost every weekend and that is all absolutely fantastic but it does mean that the greater choice will force players to choose which events they want to attend. Sadly nobody has the money, time or freedom to attend every event.

For example, the BlueFest has grown to be a huge attraction and SEMLA has revived the County Tournament which seems to have attracted the interest of the SEMLA Clubs and possibly weakened the appeal of the Sixes.
There are tournaments all over the UK and, of course, Europe offers some really exciting options for tours.

All the points made about the Sixes are true both for and against, the location favours attendance by East Clubs, the total time played is an issue but only if you know that you can go to an alternative event so before it wasn't an issue, now people will make such comparisons.

All events have to fight for their place and in truth players will vote with their feet.
If an event has lost its purpose then we should adapt.
Maybe the Sixes should stop and more focus should be put onto the County Tournament?
SEMLA has relied upon the Sixes as a major contributor for the funds available to make grants to Clubs etc, maybe that income will have to come from the County Tournament?

[bjk]

Even though It was very wet and once you were soaked the cold set in, then the pitches became more and more muddy, and all your gear was soaked through.
We still enjoyed some fun lacrosse, and had good banter with Cheltenham, Norwich, Porstmouth and Blues in particular.

Thanks for an overall enjoyable lacrosse tornament.


Can we have some better weather for next year please!!!

[Hickey7]

Dont know if anyone has put the winners up, didnt see it in the skim read.

- intermediates - Portsmouth.

minor- Maidstone.

Really enjoyed the social side of yesterday, each game was played with a mutual hate of the weather. Sixes is a lovely way to play lacrosse, its fast paced, energetic and nice to watch. Possible ideas to improve the running of the day: Post the order of the Day up on here before hand - Just means people would have an idea of where and when they are playing and not referring the peice of paper which is normally ripped, soaked or lost.

just a thought.