JOSEPH Rowntree under-16s have been crowned North Yorkshire netball champions.

Representing York & Selby, Jo Ro defeated Scarborough Ryedale, Harrogate Craven and Hambleton Richmond at Ampleforth College to clinch the title.

With Rowntree only leading 13-8 at half-time against Scarborough Ryedale, team youngsters Alice Delahay and Lizzie Pulleyn’s confidence grew to help secure an eventual 31-11 triumph.

Craven provided the hardest test but captain Amy Storey showed true character to lead by example and gave excellent feeds to Pulleyn, who was accurate with her shooting.

With five minutes to go, the Harrogate team led by three goals but interceptions from Molly Plews and controlled play by Megan Kane and Abbie King saw the gap overturned as Rowntree won 19-17.

Against Hambleton, a 7-1 advantage was established but was reduced to 9-7 by half-time. Emily Mason then made some great, well-timed interceptions in defence and Storey’s consistently excellent shooting saw the team run out 20-15 winners to lift the trophy.

Rowntree under-12s’ ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams both took unbeaten records into the York & District Championships but both finished runners-up to their St Olaves counterparts.

The ‘A’ team of Jess Holder, Lucy Storey, Jess Kilner, Laura May, Lucy Delahay, Katarina Blowers and Emilia Streames beat Bootham (6-3), All Saints (5-1), Manor (9-6), Tadcaster (8-1) and Queen Margaret’s (14-2) during the group stages. They then saw off Fulford 18-0 in the semifinals before succumbing to Olave’s.

The ‘B’ team of Abbie Lavers, Georgia Clay, Rachel Vernon, Chloe Nunn, Ellie Harrison, Holly Lockwood, Abbie King and Hannah Burns overcame York High ‘A’ (2-0), Huntington ‘C’ (8-1), All Saints ‘B’ (6- 0) and Archbishop ‘B’ (13-0) in their group. A 5-1 last-four triumph over Huntington ‘B’ followed before a 5-3 defeat to Olave’s saw them finish the day as beaten finalists.

Meanwhile, Joseph Rowntree emerged triumphant from the York & Selby District year seven hockey tournament at Huntington School.

Group wins against Huntington (2-0) and Queen Margaret’s (2-1), as well as a 0-0 draw against Manor, saw Rowntree qualify for the top pool in the finals. Thanks to some excellent goalkeeping by Alex Morton and finishing from Chloe Nunn, Lucy Storey and Laura May, Margaret’s were seen off 3-1.

A 1-1 draw with Tadcaster followed prior to a 1-0 defeat to Fulford, who Rowntree pipped to the title having scored more goals.

The full team was Morton, Rachel Vernon, captain Jess Holder, Ellie Harrison, May, Nunn, Jasmine Bauer, Storey, Kat Blowers, Holly Lockwood and Jess Kilner.

Morton was selected to represent York & Selby at the county tournament, with fellow pupils Imogen Bell, Caitlin Gough, Taylor Lamb, Eleanor Pirozek and Bethany Wood.

Leeha Cox and Anna Bertram were called up for the district at U15 level.