SINCE forming four years ago the Chislehurst-based Croydon Foxes Lacrosse Club has produced a litter of cubs who are now dominating the sport at all levels.

The players who formed the original Foxes under-12 side in 2002 are now moving to the senior levels with the Croydon Men's and Beckenham Ladies' teams and many are regulars in the South of England squad.

Those with the Beckenham Ladies will soon be touring America while the boys are preparing for a visit to Belgium with the national squad.

The Foxes were formed after interest in the sport grew in primary schools but because of a lack of junior teams in the area, they played as a mixed gender team against adult counterparts.

But their natural skill with the lacrosse stick was apparent as, within seven months, they were runners up in the South of England tournament, the South of England Sixes and the national under-12s championship, making them officially the second best under-12 lacrosse team in the country.

In 2003 the Foxes continued to impress especially at the England under-12 championships in Welwyn Garden City where their mixed team took on 10 mainly boys teams shocking everyone to reach the final and take second place.

In 2004 the team embarked on the Flags tournament the equivalent to a junior FA Cup with a 14-3 win in the first round.

The year was a transitional one as the growing team changed to an under-15 club and although they were still up against teams of older players, they continued to impress.

Foxes were being noticed and more often than not they would be the only junior team invited to senior tournaments.

This was the case in May 2004 when they took part in the Beckenham 8-a-side tournament and came second.

Last spring the Flags tournament returned and the Foxes travelled to Bath for a tough semi-final as the hosts had special dispensation to field over-age players.

However, by thumping Bath 18-2 to reach the final the Foxes sent shockwaves through the sport.

Soon after, the under-14s six-a-side Holder Trophy tournament was held at Tooting and the Foxes took two teams.

The Foxes B team took an impressive third place while the Foxes A ran out winners.

In March last year the Foxes were the only southern team invited to Manchester for a six-a-side tournament and they turned heads by winning it, in the process, becoming the first southern England team to do so.

Back home the Flags tournament reached its climax as Foxes took on the Wanderers in the final and beat them 14-10 to win the coveted trophy.

The team's dominance of the sport hit its peak in April last year when they entered two teams into the Holder Trophy under-16s tournament Foxes A being all male and Foxes B all female and both teams made the final with Foxes A winning it for the boys.

Last October the girls' under-15 team won the Kent County Championship beating highly-fancied Benenden A 3-2 on their home territory.

Today, as they grow up, the players are being picked off by senior teams.

Former Foxes are causing a storm with the Croydon Men's team helping the side to win seven of the opening nine league matches and following the Christmas break the team were back in action at the weekend losing narrowly to top-of-the-table Welwyn Warriors 7-9.

The team is now fifth in the South of England Men's Lacrosse Association league.

Foxes chairman Paul Brett said: "This group of kids are so good because they have all come through from primary school together.

"They're in Year 11 and so have been together for six years.

"They enjoy eachother's company and get on really well together."

Croydon Foxes are always looking for new players. If you are interested, call Paul Brett on 07860 315381.