Rise finish on top to win Men’s Championship
Team Rise beat Forge 13-12 in the Men’s Final of The Fly to claim the inaugural edition of the new National Sixes competition.
Rise completed a perfect Finals Weekend performance by overcoming Forge in a tense final by a single goal to win The Men’s Championship.
Rise built on another tight win in the Semi-Finals, 15-13 against Hustle, while Forge upset the odds to reach the final beating Swift, unbeaten on Opening Weekend, 21-16 to reach the Championship game.
Forge started the better and settled into the match, taking their scoring chances, forcing mistakes from Rise and goalie Tim Blower carried on his top form from the semi-final the day before in making multiple saves.
Forge led 5-3 midway through Q2 but Rise’s options and potency in attack always allowed them to keep touch and eventually they began to find their rhythm.
Ryan Hunns, added to the Rise roster for Finals Weekend, demonstrated his pure class scoring two outrageous one-handed goals on his weaker right side and was a threat throughout tallying four goals.
Meanwhile, captain Alex Russell also stepped up with a quick double to help tie the game at 8-8 at the half.
As has been clear in the Sixes game throughout the Championship, the role of goalie has been crucial to team success and the Men’s Final was no different.
Rise ‘keeper Will Baxter made stop after stop, closing down angles, and forcing the Forge attack to be perfect with their shots to hit the target.
At the other end, another of Rise’s group of attackmen, Will Prescott, scored three in quick succession to drive Rise ahead and open up a small lead heading into the final minutes.
But Forge refused to roll over - Dan Watson (5G) and Ben Page-Laycock (3G) chipped away at the Rise lead and with a minute to go the advantage had been closed to just a single goal at 13-12.
Rise ran down the clock on their final possession giving Forge seven seconds to take the game into overtime but a Hail Mary from Tom Hallam on the buzzer sailed wide, and Rise were crowned inaugural Men’s champions of The Fly.
Hustle ended their Finals Weekend on a high by turning over Swift 11-10 to take 3rd place in the Men’s competition.
Scorers
Rise: Alex Russell (3G, 3A), Michael Pomfret (3G, 2A), Ryan Hunns (4G), Will Prescott (3G)
Forge: Dan Watson (5G), Ben Page-Laycock (3G, 1A), Tom Bracegirdle (2G, 2A), Tom Roche (1G, 1A), Elliot Leonard (1G)
Final Standings
Rise
Forge
Hustle
Swift