STAFFORDSHIRE produced their best display of the season to retain the Varsity Shield for the third year running, with an 11-9 win over Keele.
The result means the mixed lacrosse team remain unbeaten at Varsity but this was not a tie that a traditional match report would not do justice to.
Such was the performance of everyone in a Staffs shirt that it would not be right to give players more credit than anybody else. Because of this there will not be a single name mentioned below.
It is an overused cliché in sport to say it was a team display, but rarely do you see a performance that you can better apply the term to than today.
With never more than a single goal separating the teams until the final quarter
and with legs tiring, it was this unity and commitment that effectively won the game.
The Scorpions struggled in the early stages as their nerves seemed to get the better of them, and twice went behind early on.
However, the way they fought back was a tribute to the team as they refused to let Keele get out of sight.
By the end of the first quarter Staffs were back on level terms, and from then on both teams shared the goals until Staffs went one up going into the last 15 minutes.
Early on in the deciding quarter, Staffs managed to gain a decisive two goal lead and this was the moment the game was won.
Keele started to believe the match was over and as a result lost their concentration, and any control they had over their emotions.
This feeling was intensified when Staffs added another to create a three-goal cushion, and prompted Keele to call a time out.
During this 30 second break the contrast in teams, and indeed universities were highlighted better than ever before.
While Keele ran in clearly arguing and despondent with each other, Staffs were joyous, joking and committed to winning.
After this point Keele managed to pull one back but the Scorpions managed to keep possession well and see out the match to help Staffordshire to a historic Varsity win.
Staffordshire: Jay Armstrong, David Grice, Christopher Pike, Dimitri Chambers, Stephen Jinks, Berti Spain, Nicola Steadman, Mimi Rich, Laura Morrissey, James Perkins, James Anderson, Marcus Howe, Jack Tew, Nick Thursby, Carly Edwards ©, Elle Morrison, Izzy Wilding, Kelly Stone.