Barrett's Blog

Wales very own Will Barrett gives his unique inside view on the World Championships

Day 12 - Forward We March

At the end of a very trying competition we defeated Latvia 18-2 today.  Theres not many words that can properly show what that means - all I can say is that say I was there; I was part of that team; I was part of Team Wales 2006. The future of Wales Lacrosse starts here - we move as one.  110% is just  the start.

Day 11 - We move as one

Nothing less than 110% - there wasn't a guy on that field, from either side, who gave anything else. After yesterday's shambles, it was a completely different Wales side that took the field today against the Czechs - this wasn't the day to hide, this was the day to stand up and be counted. We commanded the first half, taking a 4-0 lead into the break and were solid everywhere - Jamie G was hitting the target, Simo was leading the attack from the front, Rhod S was dictating the play from face-off, Bish was everywhere, Si looked like a man on a mission from God, every man jack of us (to coin a phrase from Jacko!) were out there playing our socks off.

So often in games like this, its the first goal of the second half which dictates how the rest of the game pans out - if we score, we probably go on to cruise to a win. If they score, we fight for our lives, ride some controversial refereeing decisions (admittedly, some went against the Czechs too) and win it in the first period of sudden death overtime off a freak goal, after being tied 7-7 at the end of normal time and 8-8 at the end of two periods of normal OT. I don't think I need say which it was. But we did it - as a team not as a group of individuals - we beat the Czechs for the first time since 1994 and booked a spot in the 13th place playoff.

So this story is nearly finished. We play Latvia tomorrow in a game we should win - but we all know what happened when we were in a similar boat yesterday against Spain. Nothing less than 110% again will be good enough.

Day 10 - Viva Espana! Or was it?

The biggest threat to us winning today's game was complacency. Unfortunately, despite every word in the pre-match talks from the coaches guarding us against such an approach, we started about as complacent as any team could and found ourselves 2-0 down to Spain within minutes. Ok, so we responded and finished the quarter with an unconvincing 5-3 lead. But if the start was bad, what was to follow was worse. Needless to say, no-one showered themselves in glory as mistake followed mistake and all of a sudden we found ourselves tied 6-6 at halftime in a game which we would have liked to have been wrapped up. It took the hairdryer treatment and some carefully chosen words to pull it back together and after going behind again 7-6, we finally started to grind out the result. In the second half, in parts, we actually looked like a team - there was more ball-movement, more hustle and less of the showboating that had defined the 1st half performance. A final score of 17-9 looks more impressive than the display might have deserved but we need to produce an 80 minute performance of the lacrosse we showed in the second half - and better - if we are to fulfil the promise we've shown in training. Too much work has gone into getting us this far - anything less than 110% in our last two games will not be good enough.

Day 9 - and Day 8 too

Day 8's blog managed to disappear into the ether somehow after i sent it, or rather, after yahoo sent it and then decided not to. But basically it went like this - we just got steamrollered by Italy and we were bad. Very bad. So we had to pick ourselves up for today against Ireland (i'll refrain from calling them by their alternative name) who yesterday beat Scotland to top the group. It was always going to be tough, and the result didn't really matter as we needed to beat them by something like 25 goals to leapfrog Italy to finish 3rd in the group. No matter, we were playing for pride today. And pride we played with. Sure, we lost 12-4 but we hustled and ran for 80 minutes scoring some nice goals along the way. Rory played a blinder and deservedly won Man of the Match (aka Mr Wales) and Jimmy in goal was fantastic too. In fact, there were big performances up and down the field but those were the two that stood out for me.

So now we play Spain in the play-in round. No easy task - they have a very strong midfield but if we play with the same pride and heart and aggression as we did today, hopefully i'll be writing with good news this time tomorrow.

Til then avid readers, adieu!

Day 7 - Hot Hot Heat

Big day. Big game. In the end, a narrow but telling defeat. We ran our hearts out today, took some big hits off a strong physical Scottish side, got up, and went again but ultimately we didn't get it right often enough and lost 7-3. The defence, once again, were huge - playing a zone for much of the game, the Scots never really found a consistent way through until the final quarter. Playing on the hottest day in London, Ontario's history (rumours floating about reckoned it was 42degrees C) we stuck to our game plan in the first half, dominating possession and frustrating the Scotland attack who couldn't get hold of the ball. However, for all our possession we struggled to convert that into goals, the sole effort a hidden ball trick by the Gallagher brothers - Kevin Cassesse, eat your heart out! Credit here to Scotland too - Matt Russell made some crucial saves at crucial moments, and they converted their few chances with composure.

And so we've got to put it behind us as we have another big match against Italy tomorrow. They lost to Scotland in overtime on the first day, got rocked by Ireland yesterday 15-7 but hit back with a 20-0 demolition job of Hong Kong today. It won't be easy, but there's a lot of heart in this Welsh team and we will come back hard tomorrow - whatever else, of that you can be sure.

Day 6 - Winning Ways

The tournament started properly for us today, with our opener against Hong Kong. having seen them be demolished by Ireland yesterday it could have been easy for us to go into today's game thinking that we just had to turn up to win. I think the biggest plus of the day was that complacency never really set in - apart from a couple of moments of indiscipline, we were controlled from start to finish and fully deserved the 15-0 scoreline (psst will it was 14-0). The players carrying a few knocks came through unscathed and Si was rarely tested in goal, taking the Man of the Match award for the first shutout of the tournament, and who knows, maybe it will be the only shutout?

Tomorrow brings a far bigger test though. Scotland beat a well fancied Italian side in overtime yesterday and will be a lot more physical than Hong Kong were - but we're well prepared and confidence is good within the camp. A win tomorrow will give us a huge chance of making the play-in phase. Fingers crossed!

Day 5 - Pre-match nerves? No chance!

I sit here writing as short an update as possible as i want to get on and watch Canada play Japan in the last match of the day.  So here it is, day 5 (i'm actually losing count now).  First thing this morning a run through of any pertinent rule changes or interpretations and then onto our final training session.  Again, we kept it light & pretty straight forward - the hard work's been done, now for the easy bit - winning some matches and making the world stand and take notice.

Day 3 - Water, water everywhere and we're not allowed to drink

After our first sober night yesterday evening, spent mostly watching Scotland v Holland (trying to do some scouting and video reconnaissance) and Canada v Germany (Germany held the Canucks to something like 10-4), there were a few grumpy faces about this morning (such is the lacrosse player's dependence on just one more) but the mood was soon lifted by every Welshmans favourite sight - rain, rain and a drizzle more rain. So, a light training session - mainly focussed on shooting and addressing a few issues that came out of yesterday's scrimmage with New Zealand.

Under strict instructions to do nothing overly strenous this afternoon, most of the boyos headed to the mall to undertake some shopping (in the absence of any WAGs, we felt it our duty) and credit here must be paid to young John Hammond who did a great job of recruiting supporters and cheerleaders for our first game on Saturday. The fact that almost all were young, very hot local ladies is just a coincidence. And i say 'almost' due to the one blip on his record, when he unwittingly attracted the attention of a well-heeled young gentleman who looked him up and down, pursed his lips and gave Johnny a wry smile. Hello sailor!

Tonight then, well a few of tha lds have headed off on another scouting mission as Scotland are playing Finland, whilst myself and a few of the stragglers are off on a slightly different scouting mission to see Pirates of the Caribbean.

Arrrrrrr!

Day 2 - Haka in the Heat

Sound business decisions. That was the order of the day today (as it is every day come to think of it), as we faced New Zealand for a 2pm scrimmage. And that's pretty much what we came away with, along with a comfortable 9-1 scoreline (not that the score really matters at this stage, but hey). The Kiwis 'treated' us to the Haka before the game and it's a hell of a sight - i've seen it a thousand times on the tellybox watching the rugby, but having 23 angry, growling, scowling New Zealanders bellowing it out about 5 metres from you is something else - and more than a little intimidating (although i'd never admit that in public) - awesome to see. The boyos started well, controlling the play for much of the game and taking a first quarter lead we never looked like losing - the only mark in the goal against column coming from a freakish bounce on the edge of the crease which fully diverted the ball about 45degrees and past Si in the goal who didn't really stand a chance. Simo (newly elected captain) picked up an ankle injury which is a bit of a worry, but the attack responded well and had the Kiwis all over the place at times with some excellent ball movement. I think the biggest plus of the game though was our defence - it looked NASTY! With Bish out suffering from flu, the remaining 5 poles ran the whole game and never allowed New Zealand any settled possession - both goalkeepers, Si and Jimmy, played a half each and controlled the defence brilliantly too. So all in all, a good day at the office and against a great bunch of guys!

Having seen Gary Gait yesterday, i've just spent about 10 minutes watching Team USA file off their bus into the residences - Kyle Harrison, the Powells, Joe Walters - guys i've watched time and again on the tv and theyre here, in the flesh! Awesome - and only 4 days til our first game! I'm off for some food now, gotta keep those fuel levels up!

Til tomorrow then avid readers!

Day 1 - Blame Canada!

A late start for the Welsh boys today, as many of us arrived late last night. Sadly, i was enjoying the luxury of a lie-in a little too much and missed breakfast by seconds but i did walk past the legendary Gary Gait on my way in the (sadly closed) refectory which made up for it a lot. Canada, Finland and Germany are all in the same building as us, and they all seem a good bunch of guys - i know some of the guys on the Finnish team thanks to previous tours and links with Jason Perrin, their head coach - its always cool to catch up with old mates.

So, we had a light training session this afternoon on a practise field next the the impressive TD Waterhouse Stadium but it was cut a little short as Canada were next on the field and were on time so off we came! Still, its feels good to get the ball moving around - despite the late night and long journey, everyone was looking pretty sharp. There's a good spirit about the boyos at the moment - lots of laughs but concentration when its needed too. We're due to play New Zealand in a warm-up game tomorrow so I'll report back then and let y'all know how we do. Laters potataz!