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Photos: Vivan Jayant
York women’s 1sts were beaten by top-of-the-table Durham 2nds 18-5, although they can be proud of their spirited performance.
The fixture could not have been a much harder one to start the new term, as Durham, a university which actively recruits star lacrosse players from North America, had won all of their previous five matches.
York, by contrast, have not yet won a match but will feel that they can shoot up the table if they use the same battling qualities against lesser opposition.
The match started well for the visitors who went up within the first minute, and in the blink of an eye extended the lead to four goals, as York struggled to deal with Durham’s remarkable speed of passing.
Pelter offered York a breather, running at least 40 yards and shrugging off several Durham checks before passing to Saunders, but her shot was saved by the ‘keeper.
But Durham struck back with two goals to make it 6-0. The first was on the counter-attack, the second after a sustained spell of pressure which York initially defended very well.
From this point until half time, however, it was York who dominated proceedings.
Anna Yeomans made a brilliant run down the left and delivered a shot which hit the post, but the first goal finally arrived when Mattick picked out Sasha Graham who showed no mercy in slamming the ball past the ‘keeper.
York were improving their passing game now, with Pelter, Russell and Yeomans linking up brilliantly on one occasion, Yeomans shooting just wide.
Durham scored another against the run of play but York hit back viciously with three straight goals.
Katy Barrett received a clever inside pass from the industrious Yeomans before firing home, and Durham were on the ropes again.
Then Alex Whitehead went on a solo run on the left before feeding Barrett who again scored, this time to the ‘keeper’s right to cut the deficit to 7-3.
York fought back magnificently to 7-4 when Saunders produced an incredible, mazy run beating the entire Durham defence before dispatching with ease. The professionals were being taught a lesson.
Durham got lucky, though, right at the end of the half when York searched for another and the visitors punished the lack of defenders to make it 8-4.
Durham must have received a strict half time team talk, however, as they dominated the early part of the second half, scoring seven straight goals to make it 15-4. It could have been worse if Winters hadn’t saved a penalty with the reflexes of a Venus Flytrap.
By this stage, conditions became more difficult for the players; temperatures were dropping and the wind was picking up, as Durham’s goal was blown over.
Despite conceding these goals, York still threatened at the other end, with Mattick being denied by a last-ditch check by a defender.
York scored their fifth and final goal of the afternoon through Saunders, who received the perfect pass from the impressive Mattick who netted her second of the match.
A terrific Pelter tackle constructed another York attack seconds later, but Durham managed to prevent Graham and Barrett scoring after linking up in telepathic fashion.
Durham scored their last two goals near the end of the match, but York deserved more as Mattick fired just wide and Russell agonisingly couldn’t create enough space to shoot.
In a fortnight, York face Newcastle seconds who are fourth in the table, and will approach that match with renewed belief to record their first win of the season.
Vision MOTM: Izzy Mattick