Stirling Men’s 2011/12 Lacrosse Team Source: Stirling Men’s Lacrosse Facebook Group
In the final edition of Brig last semester, Brig Sport spoke to former captain of the Men’s Lacrosse team Jamie Fleming and new captain Derek White about summer tournaments they were attending with a few team-mates. White talks about the experience of playing at the European Championships, and how it will be beneficial to Stirling’s season.
On Scotland’s performances, White said: “We played really well but at times we were complacent, not seizing the opportunities that came our way that could have finished off teams quicker. We finished ninth overall but really should have been hitting for a sixth place finish. The way the tournament round-robin was set out was if we lost one game we were not able to progress any further than we did, which wasn’t great. We finished on five wins and one loss, which was a better win ratio than anyone else in the tournament.
The Scotland squad also walked away with some great accolades in that Jimmy McBride was top goal scorer in our division and top 5 in the Championship. I was Scotland’s most penalised player, top in our division and in the top 10 of the tournament. It’s something I am proud of, for taking one for the team.”
Despite Scotland’s ninth-place finish, White says he will remember one particular match from the event. “Wales beat us in a play-off game and scuppered our chances of progressing any further than ninth place.
“They weren’t great and we lost the game more than they won it in my opinion. It came around we played them again for ninth place. We never clicked and never really had any heart, and at half time we were 0-6 down. We went to the changing room, which never happens in lacrosse, and came out after a Sir Alex Ferguson hair dryer style pep talk, and went up 9-6 by the third quarter. A nine-goal streak in 15 minutes. We ended the game winning very comfortably with a score of 12-7.
Of course, Scotland’s placing and performance mattered, but the experience of the tournament was something White will remember: “The atmosphere was great, we played in a stadium with a 5,000 seating capacity, which was almost full at every one of our games. It was an experience and we were all warmly welcomed. Finland is a bit of a weird place though, with 20 odd hours of sun light a day.”
White feels the experience can only help him and his team for the new season, saying: “The only way to progress in any sport is to play against lots of different players, styles and, ultimately, better players than yourself. Lacrosse is a game of confidence and having faced up to bigger, more experienced and supposedly better players, and matching them, it makes you able to take the chances and push harder for a better result.
“We played a friendly with some Canadians who have coaching staff that play professionally in Canada. Those guys taught me more in two hours than I have been taught in the past two years. So I am aiming to bring [that] back to our club to make us even more competitive.”
With the potential of international recognition, White is looking forward to bringing in new players: “I am hoping to bring in lots of new freshers. We are getting funding this year for strips and new equipment, so we are aiming to push forward with the club a lot.
“Pushing development is key to what we want to do. I am aiming for top of the league and to get into the play-off for the premiership. We’re also aiming for a top 3 finish in the Scottish League.
“We are recruiting new students to a sport that has everything: speed, aggression and skill. Come along to the Freshers Fayre and to a taster session on Wednesday afternoon. We have all the kit you need and it is an addictive sport one you get the basics.”
For more information on the club, or to get involved, e-mail Oliver Webb at olw00001@students.stir.ac.uk or visit the club’s Facebook page:
