CITY of York Hockey Club Under-11 Girls completed a marvellous season by finishing third in the National Mini-Hockey Championships at Cannock, Stafford-shire.

The North of England champions went into their final game with Millfield knowing victory would give them the national crown.

But they went down 2-0 - a result that gave Millfield the title and saw York finish third.

The York girls began by beating Harleston Magpies 3-0 with goals from Heather Stafford, Amelia Smalley and Judith Evans.

In their second game, despite equalising with a Heather Stafford goal, York lost 2-1 to Newark Otters and this ultimately proved crucial.

York beat St Andrew's School (Sussex) 1-0 with Stafford getting the decisive goal and that victory gave them the chance to win the competition outright before coming unstuck against Millfield.

A draw would have put them in second place but runners-up spot went to St Andrew's, who York had beaten earlier in the day.

All the girls played well and contributed to a fine team effort, including Nicky Shepherdson who played superbly in goal.

Several City of York players have won places in the Yorkshire Hockey Association Development Squads after trials.

They are: Oliver Couttie, Luke Ramli, Richard Jenkin, John Raper and Ashley Watson (U17s); John Jenkin and Alex Cockram (U15s); Richard Cockram, Thomas Sorby and Ben Hildreth (U14s).

Updated: 11:40 Saturday, May 26, 2001