6's Lacrosse the Country

Lacrosse 6’s is a shortened, fast-paced version of the traditional 10-aside game. The pitch is shorter, and the game is played in four 8-minute quarters, rather than the usual four 15-minutes per quarter.  The presence of a 30-second shot clock, as well as clearances after goals, means that the game is incredibly fast-paced with frequent turnovers and changes in the match environment.

Sixes is a relatively new discipline in the UK, and it is part of an effort to bring Lacrosse to the Olympics and help promote the game across the world. Having never played 6s before, Team Durham was keen to get involved with the BUCS 6s tournament, held at the start of the season this year. With a team limit of 12, Durham brought a mix of experienced 1st team players, as well as 2nd and 3rd team players from the club. DULAX felt that taking part and gaining experience in this new discipline would be more beneficial for the club, rather than entering for the purpose of seeking the gold (although a victory would have been pleasantly accepted!)

The men's team stepped up to this new challenge with an infectious vigour, and a clean sweep in the group stages meant that they qualified for the Quarter finals. The team relished the chance to play a variety of teams from across the country, as opposed to the usual teams played in the North East league. With a convincing win over Exeter, the team faced Nottingham in the Semi-finals, conceding a last-minute golden goal to the eventual tournament winners, finishing in 3rd place.

In the group stages, the women's team faced Exeter, Cardiff and Nottingham Trent and were successful in all those games coming top of the table. Heading into the Quarters, DUWLAX faced Loughborough in a convincing win and were onto the Semi's against Oxford, winning by two to proceed to the Finals. In a tight and aggressive final, the women lost to Nottingham bringing back the silver. 

Overall, it was an exciting day for all the teams that took part. The fast-paced nature and having no set positions meant the teams got a chance to try new skills and reach outside their comfort zone, gaining more confidence for the rest of the season. DULAX are excited to see what opportunities this new discipline will present for both University teams and the sport of Lacrosse.