WITH lacrosse set to feature in the next Olympics, a trio of local players will be hoping to be there after helping Wales finish seventh in the World U20 Championships in Hong Kong.

Twenty teams contested the 10-day tournament, which was extended from U19 and thus included university students.

Wales lacrosse impressed at the U20 worlds
Wales lacrosse impressed at the U20 worlds (Haberdashers Monmouth)

Florrie Taylor from Carey near Hoarwithy, Zoë Cripwell from Broad Oak and fellow Haberdashers’ Monmouth product Freya Taylor launched their Pool B campaign in a tough encounter with Canada, and missed out 19-0 to the second seeded north Americans.

But they bounced back next day with a late surge to beat Chinese Taipei 18-9, and followed it up with a 21-7 win over Korea after drawing 6-6 just after half-time, Wales reeling off 15 consecutive unanswered goals.

That set things up for a winner-take-all final qualifier with the native American Haudenosaunee team.

And the win-and-in scenario on the final day of Pool B action at the Hong Kong Football Stadium saw Wales narrowly edge it 8-6 for their third win in a row.

Freya Taylor controls the ball for Wales
Freya Taylor controls the ball for Wales (Haberdashers Monmouth)

That set up a quarter-final with third seeds Australia, and pacey Aussie breakaways put their opponents 4-2 up at the end of the first quarter, which they stretched to 9-3 at half-time.

Wales flew high to take seventh at the world U20 lacrosse championships
Wales flew high to take seventh at the world U20 lacrosse championships (Haberdashers' Monmouth)

Wales pulled one back in the third quarter, but two more Australian goals in the final quarter and one more for Wales saw it finish 11-5.

The effort caught up with Wales in the next placement match, as Puerto Rico raced away to win 23-2.

But Wales again found renewed energy to beat Italy in the seventh/eighth play-off, squeezing home 9-8.

Wales converted a free position shot to lead 8-7 deep in the final quarter before breaking up an Italy attack and racing the length of the field to secure a two-goal lead.

Italy hit back with a minute to play, but Wales then secured possession and held on to win.

Wales finished just behind England in sixth, with the US beating Canada 23-6 to claim gold, and Japan beating Australia 14-5 to take bronze.

A special highlight for the trio was reuniting with their former school lacrosse coach Lou Scott, who officiated at the tournament for World Lacrosse.