MINI netballers English Martyrs turned the tables on the best of York's young netball talent at the Junior Schools Netball Championship Cup.

The officially designated 'mini' school won three of their four round robin matches to claim the title. They beat 'inter' champions Clifton Green 4-2, 'micro' school Appleton Roebuck 4-0 and 'small' school St George's 3-2 to set up a decider with 'large' school Copmanthorpe for the cup.

The game ended in a 3-3 draw with enough points for the English Martyrs to seal the win, with Copmanthorpe taking second.

St George's just missed out on second place with 12 points from two wins and two draws and an impressive plus-seven goal difference.

Both Clifton Green and Appleton Roebuck finished on eight points, with Clifton enjoying a marginally better goal difference.

All five teams had earned a place in the finals evening at Rawcliffe Netball Club after winning their respective classes at a rally tournament on March 27.

North Duffield Primary School also proved that size isn't everything when they lifted the small schools netball trophy at a recent tournament.

A mixed team taken from years 5 and 6 of the school beat Sutton-on-Derwent 7-0, drew with Naburn and Elvington schools and beat Bugthorpe 1-0 to lift the trophy - despite having just 14 children in year 6.

The winning seven of Chloe Wass, Claire Ramsay, Phillippa Heming-way, Mary Coward, Louis Meadows, Oliver Anderson and Chloe Norton were coached during lunch times by teacher Jacquie Freeman.

FOOTBALL

York U11s Schoolboys gave an impressive display despite losing 3-1 to York City's Centre of Excellence at York VI Form College.

The match, played over three 20-minute periods, saw City take the early initiative and go ahead after a defensive error, but the Schoolboys found their feet and deservedly levelled in the second period through Sam Byram.

Thornton and Qualter both went close as the Schoolboys continued to press, but the final period saw City score twice to win it after the hosts made several changes, with the Schoolboys' late rally going without reward. David Fisher was man of the match, followed by Thornton and Pepper.

York U11s have a free weekend this week.

Millthorpe School are the proud owners of a new football kit thanks to a £300 grant through the Junior Kit scheme.

The under-14s yesterday wore their kit for the first time at Bootham Crescent in the York and District Cup final.

CRICKET

York District Schools' Cricket League

Tomorrow's fixtures

Group 'A' U13: Sherburn v Minster, Manor v Fulford, Lowfield v Barlby, Tadcaster v Huntington.

Group 'A' U15: Huntington v Tadcaster, Fulford v Manor, Barlby and Sherburn both have a free week.

Group 'B' U13: Joseph Rowntree v Oaklands, Burnholme v Millthorpe, Canon Lee v All Saints.

Group 'B' U15: Millthorpe v Burnholme, Archbishop's v Bootham, Oaklands v Joseph Rowntree.

The first round matches in both the U12 and U14 Cup competitions are due to be played on Thursday, May 13. The matches are:

U12 Round 1: Millthorpe v Fulford,

Canon Lee v Sherburn, Archbishop's v Tadcaster, Read, Drax v All Saints, Huntington v Joseph Rowntree, Manor v Burnholme. Byes: Bootham and Oaklands.

U14 Round 1: Archbishop's v Fulford, Joseph Rowntree v All Saints, Oaklands v Huntington, Manor v Millthorpe. Byes: Bootham, Sherburn and Tadcaster.

TENNIS

Nestl Schools' Tennis League fixtures for next week are:

U13 Girls: Pocklington v Bootham, Queen Margaret's v The Mount, St Olave's v Queen Ethelburga's.

U15 Girls: Pocklington v Bootham, Queen Margaret's v The Mount, St Peter's v Queen Ethelburga's.

U13 Boys: Bootham v Pocklington, Tadcaster v Joseph Rowntree, St Olave's has a free week.

U15 Boys: Joseph Rowntree v Bootham, Tadcaster v Pocklington.

Results of matches must be sent in to Miss E Hooley, Bootham School, 51 Bootham, York Y030 7BU as soon as possible after a match has been played.

The State Schools' Tennis League fixtures for next week are:

Boys: Joseph Rowntree v Manor, Tadcaster v Sherburn, All Saints v Fulford.

Girls: Manor v Joseph Rowntree, Millthorpe v Huntington, Sherburn v Tadcaster, Fulford v All Saints.

Updated: 09:28 Wednesday, May 05, 2004