SEVEN York schools battled it out last week at the first round of the national schools U16 netball tournament for a place in the county round in November.

All Saints and Joseph Rowntree schools, who had both qualified in the under-14s a few days previously, went into the last match head to head, neither team having lost a match.

In a nail-biting final game, All Saints took the lead and with only two minutes remaining and two goals ahead it looked like their game, but Joseph Rowntree fought hard and not only levelled the score but netted the winning goal on the hooter to take the title.

This was a reversal of the under-14 tournament when All Saints took the honours. Both teams, however, travel to Scarborough on November 20 to represent York and District and a chance to go through to the regional round in January.

Jo Ro beat Archbishop Holgate 14-0, The Mount 15-0, Huntington 11-4, Queen Margaret's 10-1, Millthorpe 12-3 and All Saints 9-8.

All Saints beat Archbishop Holgate 11-0, The Mount 13-1, Huntington 7-5, Queen Margaret's 6-5, Millthorpe 4-3 and lost to Jo Ro 9-8.

Final placings: 1 Joseph Rowntree, 2 All Saints, 3 Huntington, 3 Queen Margaret's, 5 Millthorpe, 6 The Mount, 7 Archbishop Holgate.

A 'B' tournament was also run at the same time with five of the schools able to put out a 'B' squad.

In a close competition it was Queen Margaret's who took the honours.

They lost to Joseph Rowntree, who were then beaten by Millthorpe.

Runners up position was decided on goal average after Jo Ro and Millthorpe tied on points and goal difference but Jo Ro clinched second by a narrow margin.

Queen Margaret's beat Huntington 7-0, Millthorpe 5-1, All Saints 5-1 and lost to Jo Ro 4-6

Queen Margaret's 'B': Rebecca Hartley, Emily Leeming, Emily Iremonger, Natasha Coral (Capt), Charley Falconer, Rosie Caroll, Issy Jewson, Phoebe Sutcliffe.

Joseph Rowntrees 'B': Nicky Page (capt), Laura Lockwood, Charlotte Green, Natalie Starr, Lydia Nicholson, Leah Gainley, Jessica Dixon, Robyn Brown, Emma Cook.

Updated: 10:59 Wednesday, October 20, 2004