With just one week to go until the opening day of the 2024 The Fly season at the Manchester Regional Arena, we’re rewinding two years to 2022 and the second season of The Fly, taking a look at the women’s final that year!

After a hugely successful inaugural competition in 2021, The Fly Sixes Lacrosse League was back at Lilleshall National Sports Centre for a second time with new coaches, new players, and, for the very first time, spectators welcome.

After two previous days of competition that encompassed the group stage games and the semi-finals, day three marked crunch time for both Hustle and Forge.

A new look Forge team clad in fluorescent green and black. Back in The Fly final once again. Coached by Conor Dockery for a second time. And featuring the likes of Emilie Chandler, Alice Ripper, Ella Cohen, Anna Saunter, and Sofia Wise.

Hustle in their traditional purple colours. Brand new to a The Fly final. But a formidable outfit with the likes of Minty Loxton-Barnard, Dylan Whittington, Julie Wise, Laura Beaman, and Jane Lee on their roster.

The game started at break-neck speed with Ella Cohen continuing her incredible scoring run with barely a minute gone in the game to put Forge a goal to the good.

Things slowed dramatically after this as both defences tightened and the teams tried to weigh each other up and it wasn’t until the last two minutes of the quarter that the game kicked into gear.

Firstly, Forge’s Serena Grace was sent off in a The Fly first for a dangerous shot, leaving Forge a player down for the remainder of the quarter.

Then, Julie Wise equalised for Hustle with a fantastically accurate shot past Chandler in goal but Forge ensured they were winning at quarter-time after Zoe Lovibond made it 2-1 with seconds left.

The slow pace of the early parts of the first quarter were back in the second as neither side wanted to truly commit to the attack.

But Hustle took advantage of the fact Forge had just three players on the pitch after separate violations led to three players in green having to serve time on the bench and found themselves level once again as Wise hit her second of the match.

And just before half-time the ever under-rated Lottie Paterson put Hustle 3-2 ahead with a tidy finish from a tight angle.

Early in the third quarter, Forge really turned the after-burners on and went for a now seemingly struggling Hustle side.

Wise started things off as she checked Loxton-Barnard on halfway, picked up the ground ball, drove towards goal, and, one on one with Whittington, slotted home with consummate ease. 3-3.

Saunter put Forge ahead with a superb finish on the turn before Ripper added a fifth to put her team two goals ahead.

Anna Boyne hit back for Hustle but two quick-fire strikes from Cohen put Forge in a commanding position.

Hustle weren’t done yet though. Oh, no.

They finished strongly, shaking off the early quarter fatigue, and headed into the final quarter just a goal behind after Beaman and Loxton-Barnard struck to make the score 6-7.

Hustle’s comeback was short lived as Forge’s Iona Westwood hit early in the final quarter with two identical goals from range to put her team three goals ahead.

Despite a late rally with Wise hitting the outside of the post for Hustle, Forge saw out the game, adding a tenth through Saunter just before the final whistle.

Want to experience the drama of The Fly in 2024? Click the button below to grab your tickets for this year’s competition!

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