What a day! After some very exciting matches on the pitches (see below), the Maryland Express and Timperley teams had a wonderful farewell party. Appreciation and warm wishes abounded as Sarah Hawksley and Scott McKelvie each spoke on behalf of their respective groups. Everyone recognized the amazing amount of hard work it has taken on both sides of the pond to create such an incredible experience for the players. It is a time that no one will soon forget. The afternoon included a terrific barbeque with desserts and even some inflatables for the kids on the pitch.
To celebrate the Timperley Club's 40th anniversary with lacrosse, MDX presented a picture of the entire boys and girls' teams, framed and signed by each player and coach. The party culminated with the gift of photos for each of the American players -- so you can be sure to see a glimpse of the fun we all have had during this terrific tour.
Now, onto the games. The U14 team did well and beat the Timperley team for a complete sweep of the festival. On the girls' side, the Timperley team came out strong, running with a 3 - nil lead in the first quarter, which led to a rally and goals on both sides for a 7 to 5 MDX lead at half. The MDX team went onto score a series of goals for the win of 17 to 5, making them undefeated for the tour.
On the U16 boys' side, it was another close one. With a tie at the end of regulation, the game went into overtime with a sudden death goal for the win! It was an all-American sweep, with all three MDX teams winning all of their games.
BUT!!! The true action came a bit later, when the boys played the girls in an unprecedented grudge match. There has been a bit of trash talking about this game, and the stakes were high (bragging rights!). The rules were that the players would follow girls' rules, using girls' sticks. The boys were relentless in their showboating but were abruptly stopped by the smaller pocket and skills of the girls. The boys were true gentlemen (well, almost!) -- they would go for the check, and then stop short when they remembered they were playing with the girls. But of course, they also continued to try to keep moving after before the whistle, and kept going into the crease. In the end who won, even in an enduring rainstorm? Why, the girls, of course, by a lot!!! (hee hee hee...not that this blogger is biased or anything.)
It's been a great evening. Some last minute packing and socializing are happening this evening, and then we meet tomorrow morning at 7am for the bus to the airport.
Thanks for reading the blog! Hope you enjoyed it!! Missie
Saturday, July 31, 2010
A Towering Good Time...
On an early Friday morning, the English and American players and some brave adults met at Timperley Club to make the trek to Alton Towers, an amusement park about 90 minutes away. The park is situated on the original site of a gorgeous old manor estate. The original structure dates back to 1731, with the early 1800s being the peak of the manor. The park includes many beautiful gardens, woods and a lake that makes the amusement park a lovely attraction for kids and adults alike.
Now, onto the rides. This place is not for the meek and mild. In a very scientific and statistically significant poll (method: this blogger asked various kids), it was split between whether they believed that Alton Towers is better than Hershey Park -- both among the English who went last year, and the Americans. Some believe that Hershey Park is better, while others find Alton Towers to be the best.
The favorite rides? Rita, the fastest roller coaster in Europe; Oblivion, the world's first vertical drop (I believe you can pick up your stomach on the way out); Nemesis, a loopy coaster, and Thirteen (dark, fast, ugh...you get the picture).
The lines (or queues as they call them here) were not too bad and the kids got to get onto all the rides they wanted. Several kids won large stuffed toys (bananas seemed to be the fan favorite), so it will be interesting to see how they fit those into their bags -- or perhaps the England families now have a new accessory for their homes!
It was a sea of yellow shirts throughout the park, with friendships continuing to meld. The rain held off until late in the day, and the evening activities included some pals meeting for pizza in Hale or attending an IMAX movie.
All is well in England! We are getting ready for our last day of matches today at Timperley, followed by a BBQ and farewell party. It's gone so very fast and we're going to be so very sad...our hosts have been truly incredible!
More later.
Now, onto the rides. This place is not for the meek and mild. In a very scientific and statistically significant poll (method: this blogger asked various kids), it was split between whether they believed that Alton Towers is better than Hershey Park -- both among the English who went last year, and the Americans. Some believe that Hershey Park is better, while others find Alton Towers to be the best.
The favorite rides? Rita, the fastest roller coaster in Europe; Oblivion, the world's first vertical drop (I believe you can pick up your stomach on the way out); Nemesis, a loopy coaster, and Thirteen (dark, fast, ugh...you get the picture).
The lines (or queues as they call them here) were not too bad and the kids got to get onto all the rides they wanted. Several kids won large stuffed toys (bananas seemed to be the fan favorite), so it will be interesting to see how they fit those into their bags -- or perhaps the England families now have a new accessory for their homes!
It was a sea of yellow shirts throughout the park, with friendships continuing to meld. The rain held off until late in the day, and the evening activities included some pals meeting for pizza in Hale or attending an IMAX movie.
All is well in England! We are getting ready for our last day of matches today at Timperley, followed by a BBQ and farewell party. It's gone so very fast and we're going to be so very sad...our hosts have been truly incredible!
More later.
U14 Boys' Update!
As promised, here are additional details about the U14 boys' matches:
The U14 MDXers beat WACS 10-0 in a well-played match. The defense began with a strong start, allowing us to gain a quick lead and then have some fun switching positions.
The game against Sheffield was not so easy...in a very tight match, MDX beat the Sheffield team with mere seconds to spare. The game began with Sheffield scoring first, then MDX scoring to tie it up. There were many lead changes, and Maryland Express pulled ahead late in the second quarter with lead of 7 to 4. The lead disappeared quickly as Sheffield rallied, and soon it was again tied up at 8 goals each. Following a great defensive play, our lads shut down their attack, allowed our offense to settle the ball, and scored the winning goal with 30 seconds on the clock. It was a great win against a strong, big team!
The U14 MDXers beat WACS 10-0 in a well-played match. The defense began with a strong start, allowing us to gain a quick lead and then have some fun switching positions.
The game against Sheffield was not so easy...in a very tight match, MDX beat the Sheffield team with mere seconds to spare. The game began with Sheffield scoring first, then MDX scoring to tie it up. There were many lead changes, and Maryland Express pulled ahead late in the second quarter with lead of 7 to 4. The lead disappeared quickly as Sheffield rallied, and soon it was again tied up at 8 goals each. Following a great defensive play, our lads shut down their attack, allowed our offense to settle the ball, and scored the winning goal with 30 seconds on the clock. It was a great win against a strong, big team!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Great Day in Sheffield...
It was a great, exhausting day in England! The Timperley and MDX teams first met at the Timperley club to take a coach to an outdoor pool for an exhilarating swim (it is certainly cooler here than in Maryland!), followed by a rousing game of soccer and rugby on the pool club's basketball court, and a beautifully picturesque drive to Sheffield. The U14 boys played an amazing game, winning with a goal in the last 30 seconds of the game!
The girls' game was an -ahem! interesting one. The Sheffield girls' team was not complete, so the Timperley girls were fast to step up and fill in for a rousing game. However, there was no one to play goalie for Sheffield, so Tim Blower decided to step in. While he is certainly not the prettiest girl on the field, he was definitely an amazing addition to the team -- both in talent and entertainment. As you may know, Tim is the U19 goalie for the England men's team, so our MDX girls were up against a powerful, tall and talented goalie for sure. In the end MDX won 5 to 3, in spite of 'Madame' Blower's many saves. The best line of the match, following a goal by MDX: 'My defense has all gone shopping!'
In U16 boys' action, it was yet another great match. Sheffield jumped to a quick 2 - o lead, even leading 3 to 2 at the half. Thanks to a solid defense we stayed close but continued to trail into the third quarter when Sheffield was called for 2 unnecessary roughness calls. We were then leading 8 to 6 late in the fourth quarter, when some mistakes caused Sheffield to close to 9 to 8 within just minutes of the game's end. Our defense held on and MDX won, 9 to 8!!
Tomorrow is a fun day at Alton Towers, an amusement park. It will be a great bonding day for the Timperley and MDX players.
All is well in England! More later.
The girls' game was an -ahem! interesting one. The Sheffield girls' team was not complete, so the Timperley girls were fast to step up and fill in for a rousing game. However, there was no one to play goalie for Sheffield, so Tim Blower decided to step in. While he is certainly not the prettiest girl on the field, he was definitely an amazing addition to the team -- both in talent and entertainment. As you may know, Tim is the U19 goalie for the England men's team, so our MDX girls were up against a powerful, tall and talented goalie for sure. In the end MDX won 5 to 3, in spite of 'Madame' Blower's many saves. The best line of the match, following a goal by MDX: 'My defense has all gone shopping!'
In U16 boys' action, it was yet another great match. Sheffield jumped to a quick 2 - o lead, even leading 3 to 2 at the half. Thanks to a solid defense we stayed close but continued to trail into the third quarter when Sheffield was called for 2 unnecessary roughness calls. We were then leading 8 to 6 late in the fourth quarter, when some mistakes caused Sheffield to close to 9 to 8 within just minutes of the game's end. Our defense held on and MDX won, 9 to 8!!
Tomorrow is a fun day at Alton Towers, an amusement park. It will be a great bonding day for the Timperley and MDX players.
All is well in England! More later.
Maryland Express vs. Sheffield Game Pictures
Maryland Express Girls vs. Sheffield/Timperley Team
(Including the girl in front who forgot to shave her legs this morning.)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
And it's Brooklands, not Brookfields!
...oops! Sorry - a little lost in translation.
And while I'm on the subject, here are some other translations for you:
It's not a field, it's a pitch.
It's not a game, it's a match.
It's not a uniform, it's a kit.
It's not practice, it is training.
They aren't cleats, they are boots.
French fries are chips, and chips are crisps.
More later...
And while I'm on the subject, here are some other translations for you:
It's not a field, it's a pitch.
It's not a game, it's a match.
It's not a uniform, it's a kit.
It's not practice, it is training.
They aren't cleats, they are boots.
French fries are chips, and chips are crisps.
More later...
U16 Boys Update and a Free Day in Jolly Old England!
First, the promised update about yesterday's Boys' U16 game...
WACs was a big team, and the game got a bit 'chippy', as the English call it. MDX quickly jumped ahead with a 3 - 0 lead, which became a 5 - 3 lead at halftime. In the second half, WACs asked to extend the quarter time to 20 minutes running time rather than 15, a request we gladly accommodated -- we're here to play! As a result of jet lag, slashing penalties, sleepovers and many other excuses we can think of, the game was beginning to be exceedingly close with a score of 8-all at the beginning of the fourth quarter. After some settling and solid teamwork, MDX went on a 4 goal run and won 12 - 8.
In other MDX action, the kids had a fabulous 'free' day with their respective host families. From Wales and Liverpool to London and the Lake District, the kids and families got a jump start on a beautiful morning, traveling to places near and far -- seeing great sights and making amazing memories. It's evening now and everyone is getting home, showing their purchases and sharing their stories -- what a fabulous day.
Tomorrow, it's another early day as the bus leaves the Timperley Club promptly at 9:30am for a fun morning of swimming, followed by playing the boys' and girls' teams at Sheffield. It promises to be yet another great day in England. Tally ho! All is well.
WACs was a big team, and the game got a bit 'chippy', as the English call it. MDX quickly jumped ahead with a 3 - 0 lead, which became a 5 - 3 lead at halftime. In the second half, WACs asked to extend the quarter time to 20 minutes running time rather than 15, a request we gladly accommodated -- we're here to play! As a result of jet lag, slashing penalties, sleepovers and many other excuses we can think of, the game was beginning to be exceedingly close with a score of 8-all at the beginning of the fourth quarter. After some settling and solid teamwork, MDX went on a 4 goal run and won 12 - 8.
In other MDX action, the kids had a fabulous 'free' day with their respective host families. From Wales and Liverpool to London and the Lake District, the kids and families got a jump start on a beautiful morning, traveling to places near and far -- seeing great sights and making amazing memories. It's evening now and everyone is getting home, showing their purchases and sharing their stories -- what a fabulous day.
Tomorrow, it's another early day as the bus leaves the Timperley Club promptly at 9:30am for a fun morning of swimming, followed by playing the boys' and girls' teams at Sheffield. It promises to be yet another great day in England. Tally ho! All is well.
Free Day with Hosts and an U16 update...
First, the promised update on yesterday's U16 boys' game!
It was a big game against WACs
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Another great day in England...
It has been a super day in England. The day began lazily with many of the players waking up in different homes after sleepovers.
Both boys' teams played WACS and won!! The U14s pulled back and were great sports with the win, with offense playing defense and vice versa. It's been a great sweep thus far -- details to follow!
The girls' originally scheduled game was canceled, so the coaches had a superb idea to instead swap squads and teach the girls a thing or two. Coaches Scott and Brian ran great American drills with the Brits while Craggy taught the American girls some rugby moves, including one where the girls were 'cheek to cheek' -- and here's a clue -- only one of the cheeks was on the face. The girls were tackling and laughing like crazy.
Following a fun round of rugby, the Timperley and MDX teams were combined into one, then split into black and white teams. It was a closely contested game, where we're not even sure of the score. Anyway, Coaches Scott and Craggy were the goalies, and all the girls seemed to have an absolute blast -- so what's the worry??!!
The afternoon ended with a meal of 'salad bowls' and cream cakes (where the boys took the cakes in lots of 4 or more!), with lots of socializing throughout all the teams.
Pics of the day and more details to follow. Tomorrow is the free day, where people are going to places as varied as Liverpool, London, the Lake District, Wales, and more.
It was a beautiful day in England and all is well!! More later.
Both boys' teams played WACS and won!! The U14s pulled back and were great sports with the win, with offense playing defense and vice versa. It's been a great sweep thus far -- details to follow!
The girls' originally scheduled game was canceled, so the coaches had a superb idea to instead swap squads and teach the girls a thing or two. Coaches Scott and Brian ran great American drills with the Brits while Craggy taught the American girls some rugby moves, including one where the girls were 'cheek to cheek' -- and here's a clue -- only one of the cheeks was on the face. The girls were tackling and laughing like crazy.
Following a fun round of rugby, the Timperley and MDX teams were combined into one, then split into black and white teams. It was a closely contested game, where we're not even sure of the score. Anyway, Coaches Scott and Craggy were the goalies, and all the girls seemed to have an absolute blast -- so what's the worry??!!
The afternoon ended with a meal of 'salad bowls' and cream cakes (where the boys took the cakes in lots of 4 or more!), with lots of socializing throughout all the teams.
Pics of the day and more details to follow. Tomorrow is the free day, where people are going to places as varied as Liverpool, London, the Lake District, Wales, and more.
It was a beautiful day in England and all is well!! More later.
Monday, July 26, 2010
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