GIRLS representing the Grange School have won a prestigious knockout competition for the first time.
They prevailed in a thrilling final against rivals from Goldolphin & Laytmer School on Wednesday afternoon to get their hands on the School Sport Magazine Cup.
After reaching the last four in 2016, they reached a target to go one better.
They've only gone and done it!!!
— The Grange School (@GrangeHartford) March 22, 2017
The teams shared eight goals in the opening quarter at Berkhamsted School, in Hertfordshire, before the under 13s from Hartford edged ahead 19-15 by halfway.
Their advantage had narrowed slightly, to 29-26, at the close of the third quarter but they held on to avenge a 34-29 defeat by the same opponents at the quarter-finals stage of the Smile Independent Schools’ National Cup in January.
Grange had to win seven matches just to reach the showpiece, including a semi-final success against Berkhamsted – who had ended their run at the same stage last season – at Winsford Lifestyle Centre last month.
That sequence started with a preliminary round victory at Cheadle Hulme back in September.
Wins against Fallibroome Academy (34-2), Wirral Grammar (20-18) and Christleton (33-12) followed.
Bury Girls’ Grammar School were favourites to win their meeting in the last 16, only for Grange to cause an upset with a 34-18 win.
They carried that form into the quarter-finals, where they saw off East Riding-based South Hunsley (42-27).
March has proven to be a successful month, for the girls – coached by Lauren Watson along with head of netball Jessie Fowler – were crowned as county champions following an extra-time win against King’s Chester.
They have benefitted from playing together at the weekend for the past four seasons after joining Northwich Sapphires as eight-year-olds.
“It makes a big difference,” said Watson, a coach at the club as well as heading its committee, told the Guardian during an interview last month.
“The girls started to gel as a team from the moment they met.
“That’s obviously helped to bring them success as a school side too because they have a style of play that suits them.”
School Sports Magazine National U13 Netball CHAMPIONS! Very, very, very well done!! @schoolsportmag @Grangesport pic.twitter.com/Ja5UbHip4O
— The Grange School (@GrangeHartford) March 22, 2017
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