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'Bellies win A1 bantam bronze

The New Westminster Salmonbellies saved their best for last at the B.C. Lacrosse provincial bantam A1 championships in Delta last weekend.

The New Westminster Salmonbellies saved their best for last at the B.C. Lacrosse provincial bantam A1 championships in Delta last weekend.

The bantam 'Bellies finished in third place following a resounding 11-1 win over Langley in the consolation final at the South Delta rec centre on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the 12-player New Westminster team was soundly beaten 8-1 by eventual silver medalist Coquitlam in an 8 a.m. semifinal matchup.

"It was bad timing. We just didn't play well that morning," said Salmonbellies head coach Rich Catton.

League runner-up Ridge Meadows downed Coquitlam 11-4 in the provincial final.

"It was back and forth, even the gold-medal game was a surprising score, too," said Catton.

The provincials were a close contest between the top five teams, including Juan de Fuca, which New West edged 6-5 in overtime in its opening game of the competition.

That win proved key to New West moving on after placing fourth in the round robin.

New West also had a hiccup in its opening game against Coquitlam, blowing a 6-4 lead in the final period in an 8-6 loss.

Second-year players Nick Hannay, Eric Maas and fair play winner Will Malcom earned game MVPs for New West, while first-year keeper Johnny Edin also claimed a game star.

Malcom was also named New West's team all-star at the provincials.

Catton, known for his hard-nose play with the senior A Salmonbellies, won the fair play coach award.

It is the third fair play award as coach for Catton, including one such honour in field lacrosse.

"It's my third time," said Catton. "I think the coaches are just making fun of me now."