Meet the 2013 Knights......the next generation!

Players invited to attend tour in 2013.

Practice Sunday 27th Nov 11am -1pm (Parents Meeting cancelled) at Manchester Wacs, Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury.

Will Baxter
Elliott Hurry
Will Allsop
Joe Harris
Jake howarth
Ben Reddy
Jay Moore
Ben Leahy
Steven Ewing
Charlie Edwards
Alex Winton
Joe Baythorpe
Tig Bancroft
Ben Smith
Tim Nicol,
Alex Russell
Elliott Condren
Josh Peachey
Matt Rowarth

English Knights Elite U18 vs Wales U19.
04/12/11, Old Waconians, Didsbury, 2pm Face-Off.

Practice Sunday 27/11/11 - Didsbury Time TBC

All welcome.

E.T #2

It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Edward Thornber, he will be forever in our thoughts & hearts and will be never be forgotten, Our best wishes & support go out to Edwards parents Adrian & Ann and also his sister in this difficult time.

The experiences we shared will live forever, we will never forget your warmth and smile, you touched our lives and you will live on in us.

You gave everything and so many people where impressed with your play but most of all you as a person, you where the best.

Knights will never forget you and will play in your honour.

We Love you.

Eddie Thornber #2, 1993 - 2011 R.I.P

Knights Vs Scotland U19's

Knights 15 - Scotland U19s 0

Thanks to all the players and to Alan Hunns for setting up the game against Scotland.

Stats:
Goals
Dane Carney 4
Lewis Curtis 3
Sir Toby of Hawksley 2
Cam Parks 1
Josh Kinder 1
Josh Turner 1
Tom Bracegirdle 1
Chris Doona 1
Matt Collier 1

Assists
Jake Weddell 3
Toby Hawksley 1

Thank you to Simon Smith for the Amazing photographs!

This will be the final post I think and I must say I will be sad to see the blog go, thank you to all the players for making this team and trip so successful, I couldnt have asked for a better bunch of lads! This isnt the end and im always there for you fella's if there is anything you need. Good luck in the future.

Thank you to all the coaches and parents for supporting me and for the wonderful gift you gave me (framed team picture), Jude also loved her flowers.............Thank You!

Lets hope this is the first of many.

Final Stats

Player	Goals	Assists	Points
Hunns	11	6	17
Carney	10	3	13
Weddell	3	7	10
Tomlinson	2	6	8
Curtis	5	0	5
Bracegirdle	1	2	3
Collier	1	1	2
Hawksley	1	1	2
Kinder	2	0	2
Clowes	0	1	1
Jordan	0	1	1
Parks	1	0	1
Doona	1	0	1

Please check them and let me know if I have made any mistakes.

4

3

2

Picture selection

I cant stress how talented Bob Carney is!!, this work should be published!. Thank you also to Aca for taping the games, I have watched a few and there are some awesome highlights, anyway it took me ages to select these pics, this is just a selection of the best shots (I thought at the time), lots more to come! go on update your Facebook status picure!

More tomorrow!

I read these two comments on the #1 lacrosse forum site http://www.laxpower.com/ below about the Knights on the Gait Cup thread and thought that I would post here:

Re: English Knights Lacrosse

by Andersen on Tue Jul 05, 2011 8:43 am

Watching the English Knights at Gait Cup was one of the highlights of the summer for me. There were lots of great things about watching them play. They're certainly a respectable team with several very good players. The defenseman with the neon orange mesh stood out for me. My wife and I were really impressed by the way all the players encouraged each other throughout the game, very cool to see. Everyone commented on the first class way the players conducted themselves. I sure hope to see them over here again. Best of luck in the future.

Andersen

Posts: 377

Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:57 pm

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Re: English Knights Lacrosse

by sclax19 on Tue Jul 05, 2011 10:20 am

I had the opportunity of playing against the knights. On the field they are very intense and serious, not really the nicest kids when playing against them. But we got to take a picture with them after the game. They were ALL really nice and cool kids. They also had great sportsmanship and a huge desire to win. Overall it was a neat experience and I'm glad I had the opportunity to play against them

...............................................

This is the goal we set for the team, WE WON fella's

Home

Check back for more photos being added to each report.

Check out!

There was an amazing storm at around 4am last night/this morning, it woke me up but some of the kids where so tired that they slept through it!! I woke at 8m and walked over to the Cafeteria and as I walked under a tree I heard the crack of a large branch falling from above, it dropped 3 feet in front of me!!...........some one is watching over me or its a good job that I walk slowly!

We watched the final game in high heat and made our way back for room checks and check out and are now waiting in the air conditioned gym again for our Yellow school bus to take us to the airport (3 hours away) Cam Parks and Tom B have now left to carry on their holiday.

I will report any delays when we arrive at the airport but the it is seems to be clear and on time as I have checked on the internet.

I hope this has been an amazing experience for the boys and hope that they have grown as young men and are better Lacrose players because of it.

Thank you to all the people that have helped us on this trip and a big thank you to Bill and Tom Hardy of All American Lacrosse camp and The organisers of the Gait cup, this has been my dream for a long time and I have loved every minute! thank you to the boys for making this an amzing experience for me and to Mike Armstrong for taking this journey with me, he has been there for the boys eveyday and it is nice to have someone like Mike for the boys to fall back on, he has done an amazing job and I think he has learnt a lot about coaching in this format, I know he has also felt the mental strain and found what it takes to be an Elite Coach.

Thank you to the parents for supporting me, I am sure the boys will thank you themsleves for providing this opportunity for them, they should be very grateful.

THANK YOU

All Star Game

All the Knights where in the soccer stadium on Campus tonight to watch Ryan Hunns play in the Orange Division All Star Game, when Ryan stepped on the field the lads where doing the city celebration (the Poznan), he looked slick out there showcasing his skills in front of a sideline of College coaches, throwing fakes, making plays and coming close to scoring off a wing dodge but his shot just hit the side netting.......... but all the lads where on their feet!

We where all so proud that next to big names on the roster the name of Ryan Hunns of the English Knights Lacrosse team was included!



Coach Tierney of the University of Denver with Ryan in the background.

A Proud coach with Ryan Hunns #13 White All Stars

Team Illinois Pitch 1 - Main Stadium

Well the win finally came, unfortunatley Cam could not come along for the ride because of heat stroke, so we did it for him! (he's ok now and ive just seen him go back for 3rds in the cafeteria).

We had a team meeting (as always) before the game and walked up to the stadium with the Flag held high, we wanted the win and we wanted to do everything to get it, the temperature had dropped (thankfully) in the stadium and we controlled the ball well and dictated play and came out winners!

Highlights - Jake scored from Goal line extended with a nice Low to High shot that stuck in the opposite top corner and his second was an over hand high to low.

Ryan Hunns had some great goals - his third a one handed high catch on the run and a high bouncer into the top corner.

Jamie Tomlinson received a pass from Tom Bracegirdle to finish off both posts! he also cleared the ball with some ankle braking moves that drew oohs from the crowd.

Dane Carney kept up his amazing record of scoring in every game and has been one of our players of the tour.

Jon Clowes with an assist from behind the goal to the opposite restraining line to Ryan for his second goal.

Goals
Ryan Hunns 3
Jake Weddell 2
Dane Carney 1
Jamie Tomlinson 1
Lewis Curtis 1

Assists
Jake Weddell 2
Dane Carney 2
Jamie Tomlinson 1
Tom Bracegrdle 1
Jon Clowes 1

After the game we found that Ryan Hunns had made the All-Star Team, which is not only amazing for him
but also for the team, we have gained respect and impressed a lot of people over here.

No more games to report on and I can go to bed early tonight.........................maybe!

The Hottest Game Ever - Dallas Pitch 4

This afternoon the Knights stepped out onto field 4 to play Team Dallas. The sun was beating down at what we later found out to be 90+ degree heat. Obviously this played into the Texans hands with remarks from the opposition that it was like spring weather! With the excessive heat the officials were forced to implement a water break timeout in the first half.

The Knights started just like their historic counterparts, weighted down in chain-mail in the midday sun, sluggish and unable to strike any blows in the attack and back to playing too much defence, Dallas quickly shot to a 6-0 lead. The heat was clearly having an effect on the players and with Cam Parks sat out with suspected heat stroke half time couldn't come soon enough. But a life-line was thrown to the Knights with a well finished move created by Ryan Hunns and finished by Dane Carney. Half time 6-1, Game on...

With some strong words at half time from the coaches, the start of the second half couldn't be any more of a contrast from the first. Off the face, which was proving to be more of a challenge in this game, Matt Collier picked up a great ground ball ran the ball down on the break and assisted Josh Kinder who started his Knights tally with a well placed inside shot.

With some momentum the team picked up the game where they left off after the morning and with the defence now working in a unit, the pressure forced Dallas into a mistake. Off the side-line Jonny Clowes split open the Dallas midfield and picked out Dane Carney who off the fast break found Jake Weddell who assisted Josh Kinder for his second in quick succession.

Feeling the pressure Dallas started giving up penalties and from the man-up a well found feed from Toby (I don't tidy my room) Hawksley picked out Ryan Hunns who made the game 6-4. Continuing the trend the Knights drew more penalty flags and Jake Weddell opened his Knights account assisted by Dane Carney wheeling round the corner and finishing well.

With the Knights fighting their way back into the game, the 6 on 6 play now seemed effortless and gaps were opening up in the Dallas defence. Ryan Hunns took a dodge and cooly passed to Dane Carney who proved yet agian that inside finishing is his fortay. Now at 6-6, the Knights proved their character and how they are such a great bunch of players to coach.

With 5 minutes to play the Knights found themselves on the receiving end of questionable decisions and were down to firstly a 5 man zone which they successfully shut-out upon and then a further 4 man zone which Dallas converted on. Under the pressure again the team pulled together and a great individual effort from Lewis Curtis found the back of the net an tied the game upfor a second time. 7-7.



With less than a minute remaining, the rollacoster of a game took a familiar turn and Dallas sadly nicked the winner, running out of time and trying to get the ball back the clock ran out and another lesson learn't, this truely was a game of two halves.

We returned to the oasis that is the air conditioned gym and then on our return to the dorms we had the lads take the coldest shower they could for 5 mins..................lots of screams!

Goals
Josh Kinder 2
Dane Carney 2
Ryan Hunns 1
Jake Weddell 1
Lewis Curtis 1

Assists
Ryan Hunns 2
Dane Carney 1
Toby Hawksley 1
Jake Weddell 1
Matt Collier 1

We are off now to play our last game, determined to get our on-field victory, but with so many lessons learnt this week and so many positive comments received from the other teams, there is no doubt that the trip has been a resounding success. Posting back later....

Haymakers 2 - 8am Pitch 3

What a great game people swarmed around us at the end of the game it came down to OT................

The Knights had played amazing,  the best game so far! But sadly we came up short. The Haymakers scored 2 goals, one at the end of the game and one in OT, Tom Bracegirdle had another great game, Ryan Hunns put the last drop energy scoring 2 and jacking some kid up at the halfway line, the attacking ride was amazing and the attack worked hard to win back the ball, Jake Weddell had a great game dodging and controlling the ball from X and Riding. Toby Hawksley running through middie scored his first goal as did Chris Doona from the crease and as did Cam Parks who has worked so hard for the team.

I cant say enough about Matthew Collier he runs himself into the ground for this team and clears the ball for us effortlessly.

The lads were dissapointed but we got so much respect and this is our mantra, coaches and fans lined the sideline to watch this match up and must have been one of the games of the tournament.

The score was 9-8 in OT. We will get our win...reporting back later.

Goals
Ryan Hunns 2
Chris Doona 1
Toby Hawksley 1
Cam Parks 1
Lewis Curtis 1
Dane Carney 1
Tom Bracegirdle 1


Assists
Jake Weddell 2
Jamie Tomlinson 2

We play Dallas at 1pm on pitch 4 should be a warm one.

Day 2 of the Tournament

Today was the day that the competative matches started, we had an early start with a game against buffalo at 9 a.m. They were a completely differant standard to the game we had against Cheaspeake Rock Lime, but as a team we stepped up to the mark and only lost 7-5 because of a couple of duff calls by the referees; although we didnt win, we made a huge statement and showed what we could do.

Having played the first game we had a big break before our next game at 3 p.m as usual the banter was flying, but this time was spent, by the majority of people, resting and recovering for our busy afternoon.  having had lunch we started to prepare for our next match, we kitted up and got out to the field in plenty of time to getready for the game.  This game was dubbed by the opposition as England versus the USA. We tried not to let this phase us and went out and played our fast hard hitting game, it is fair to say that the Americans didn't like how we took the game to them and again this game was only lost because of some rash decisions.

Our final game of the day was against the hurricanes, this team is one of the favourites to win and as in the previous two games we just tried to play our game and do as well as we could and compared how other teams have played against them we were amazing, for example the buffalo team we played as our first game were beaten 13-5, whereas we manged to contain them.  Eddie had an outstanding game and was one of the main reasons we managed to contain the hurricanes. Even though they ran out 10-1 winners, the score didnt reflect how we played.

I feel that special thanks should go to Bob and Aca Carney who are both helping out with the photography and the videoing of the games, we all the really appreciate it.

Bring on tomorrow!!

The Unknown Knight......

Game 2 and 3 of the day.

We went for lunch on a high after playing so well this morning and looking forward to the game at 3pm, the heat has been brutal down in PA but we where confident that we could win or run the Shore Skipjacks very close as confidence was high. After lunch the players looked like a grand-parent after a Sunday roast next to a roaring fire and no one could blame them, this is the hottest it has been in PA for a while and there is nowhere to escape the heat and sun.

The boys battled hard against the Skip Jacks and the Knights laid out some hard hits to entertain the crowd we even heard the American crowd cheering us on! We have tried to give the players that have not scored yet a lot of time in this game to get them going (everyone has got split time usually) Josh Kinder was unlucky with a great shot off the near post, I will come back with more details but we struugled to clear again and we played half the game in Defence, there where some great performances out there but the knights efforts came up short and we lost the game 9-3 . It was a nasty game and the Skipjacks played it physical and lets say they played on the dirty side, we have had pictures with every team we played against which is a lot of fun but we decided to not have a picture with this team.

Vs Skipjacks
Goals
Ryan Hunns - 1
Lewis Curtis - 1
Dane Carney - 1

Assists
Jake Weddell - 1
Jamie Tomlinson - 1

The boys looked down after the game but we had to lift ourselves for the next game at 5pm. We spent the time in the Gym which had air conditioning to clear the lads heads and get a cool down.

The coaching staff challenged the team to lift themselves and the Captains Dane Carney, Josh Turner and Cam Parks have done an amazing job as well as other leaders on the team, I cant say enough about the lads on this squad. I warned them at the start of the week that this Tournament would be a rollercoaster and they have been there for each other all the way through. We have set small goals for the team from the start and played without any pressure, taking each game as it comes, we have put a high emphasis on giving everyone a good hard game and every team has had to work for the win, the Knights should be proud of the way they have performed and if these players will be better for English Lacrosse because of it!

We left the air conditioning building and it was time for the CT Hurricanes, again we played a lot of defence and we kept them out time aftertime Jon, Josh, Chris and Joe have had no rest but they didn't miss a slide or check, this was Eddie Thornber best game saving shot after shot, his legs and arms can only be described as black and blue.We went into the half level but still not having the ball in our own half too much. The CT Hurricanes are the best team we have played and where great all over the field and deserved the to win the game. Highlights - Lewis Cutis playing long pole midfield with some style for some of the game, Jake taking on double team after double team and he has carried the ball amazingly well, Toby Hawksley's one man clear using quick spins to get through the Hurricanes ride. We scored a fantastic goal at the end of the game with Tom Bracegirdle running up the sideline past double and triple teams only to pass to Dane Carney at the last minute for our final goal of the day.

Goals
Dane Carney -1

Assists
Tom Bracegirdle - 1

I just want the players to win for themselves now as they have put in so much effort and they deserve it, as they say sometimes you learn more lessons from losing some times!

Sorry about the late update but we finished the game and had half an hour to get dinner and then had to check the games for the next day. I did this as soon as I could.

We have Haymakers 2 at 8am in the morning on pitch 3, the team is coached by Coach Lord, England U19's Matt Lords father, it is great to see him again and a good way to go into the final round. A good friend of Jakes Nick Meredith who he met at All American camp last year is also playing for them.

One more day and a few more challenges. As Curtis would say Dutty as a Sausage butty!

Game Update

9am Pitch one main (stadium) vs Buffalo.

We have improved ten fold today from last nights game, we cleared the ball well and the lads have taken on everything the coaching staff have put in front of them.

Tom Bracegirdle and the faceoff crew did an amazing job and we have come a long way from last nights game, we went into half time 4-4 against a strong Buffalo team and after some questionable decisions by the referee's in the second half we finished the game 8-6. The boys are learning more every game and are just amazing bunch of kids.

We saw some friends from Canada's Mimico team that the academy played last summer at the world games including Joe French, they watched the game and cheered us on.

Coach Armstrong has just been amazing job and the boys are relishing having him here with us.

Goals
Dane Carney 3
Ryan Hunns 1
Lewis Curtis 1
Matt Collier 1

Assists
Ryan Hunns 2
Jamie Tomlinson 2

Check back later for more updates, we have another game 3 and 5 so will not have time between games, you should be proud of these boys.