ALL SAINTS School's Under-14 basketball team were today in Birmingham hoping to book their place in the semi-finals of a prestigious national tournament.

The York team were taking on the West Midlands regional winners, Bishop Chaloner RC School, in the quarter-finals of the English Schools' Basketball Association competition.

All Saints have already surpassed their previous efforts in the event having not even got past the local stage last year.

Team manager Tony Teasdale described it as "a real triumph" but knows they will have to be at their best if they are to progress any further.

He said: "They are a sports college so it is no doubt going to be the hardest test so far.

"We lack a bit of height which could go against us but we defend very well. We're smaller but mobile."

They have won five games on the way to the quarter-finals, beating Granby High (Harrogate) 101-37, Eskdale (Whitby) 88-64, Rawthorpe (Halifax) 78-58, Calder High (Huddersfield) 42-18 and Port Way (Bristol) 77-50.

Teasdale puts the school's success down to the increasing popularity and standard of basketball in York, thanks mainly to Dave Smith who runs the York and District Basketball Forum.

Further events are being planned, as Teasdale explained: "Immediately after half-term we've got coaches from St John's coming into schools running sessions for boys at Under-12 and girls at Under-14 with the aim of setting up a tournament early in the summer term.

"There's a lot of interest and because of that it has a knock-on effect on the standard."

LACROSSE

HARROGATE Ladies' College lacrosse team returned triumphant from a one-day championship north of the border, after winning the Scottish Schools Invitation Lacrosse Tournament.

They beat off eight other teams to claim the winners' cup after drawing one and winning four hard fought matches. The victory repeated their triumph at the same tournament in 1998.

Nicky Butters, head of physical education at Harrogate Ladies' College said: "They're a young team, mainly from the upper fifth and lower sixth who have only been playing together since September, so this win has given them a real boost."

Goalkeeper, Charlotte Butler was outstanding in a great team performance.

Harrogate Ladies College are now preparing for its next challenge - the National Schools Tournament in March. Then in the summer, the girls are off to Canada to compete with teams in and around Toronto.

FOOTBALL

IN the Primary Cup competition all round two matches are due to be completed by Friday.

The draw is: Riverside/Dringhouses v Hob Moor; Rufforth/Oaken Grove/ Headlands v English Martyr's/Osbaldwick; Haxby Road/St George's v Poppleton Road/Skelton; Park Grove v Kingsway; Carr v Wigginton.

Should any of these pairings not be correct will schools please sent the correct parings to Peter Wilmott, 217 Beckfield Lane, York (01904 791416).

Prize night

YORK and District Schools' Athletic Association will hold their awards night at The Citadel, Salvation Army, Gillygate, York, on Wednesday, April 4.

These presentations were postponed last year because of the floods.

The awards will be presented by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Shan Braund, and the ceremony will also be attended by the Sheriff of Yoork, Barrie Ferguson.

The Citadel will be open from 6.45pm, with the presentations starting at 7pm and finishing at about 8pn. Parking is available in Union Terrace Car Park.

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Updated: 14:33 Wednesday, February 14, 2001