YORK Phoenix have been crowned National Rock-it-Ball Knockout champions hot on the heels of clinching the Yorkshire and Humber League title.

Coach Carl Alsop was also named Player of the Tournament as Phoenix overcame Ripon Vanquish 278-181 in the final.

Earlier, stable-mates York Raiders were seen off 420-176 in the semi-finals and Easi RockIts were also brushed aside 462-288.

Phoenix completed their league campaign with a 100 per cent record by beating Easi HellCats 254-142.

HellCats have been relegated to division two after losing 174-146 to Vanquish.

Despite the efforts of HellCats’ returning pair Alex Cooper and Jonathon Cooper, the Ripon team prevailed and preserved their top-flight status with player-coach Tom Hildreth leading by example.

Easi HellFighters will join them in the first division next season after a tense 187-174 victory over Raiders with Caitlin Seivewright impressing on her debut.

Meanwhile, Hildreth, the rock-it-ball world champion defeated African Nations champion Malingha Timothy on his home patch in Uganda.

Hildreth won a tight match 94-77 during a trip to further promote the North Yorkshire-born sport in the African country.

The two players also visited a school in Kampala and staged master-classes and coaching sessions. The venture attracted national news coverage on each of three days of the stay.