Tabs taken apart
Blues Lacrosse
Oxford 13 - 2 Cambridge
THE EXPECTATIONS of Oxford's lacrosse team were high on the eve of the final showdown before the Varsity match. With the squad for that game announced the previous evening, the team finally back to full strength after a string of illnesses and injuries, and a sizeable crowd of supporters on the sidelines, the scene was set for a classic Oxford display.
Yet the first five minutes of the game witnessed a familiar Oxford fumble at the draw, and Fi MacPherson, the Cambridge captain, left hearts in mouths with a confident drive on goal. Confusion overcame the Oxford defence, and the first score went to Cambridge. Once more the Dark Blues had shown their perrenial lack of concentration in the opening minutes.
A huge proportion of their games have seen them go down early on, and a team on form will be quick to exploit the lapses of concentration and drive at the root of this problem. Criticism seems inappropriate, however, given the stunning set of six goals that were slammed into the back of the net by Lizzie Crouch soon after.
Crouch was clearly enjoying her return from injury, while the finesse of a Rusty Cashman effort placed in the topright- hand millimetre of the goal left jaws drooping right across the pitch. Vice-captain Cressida Barrett also made a valuable contribution to the scoring, and even after further goals from Amy Jordan and Libby Finch, others were still lining up for their turn. This Oxford team clearly has strength in depth.
All they now have to do is reach the peak of their upward curve when it really matters.
17th Feb 2005