Talented netballers from the York area are being given the chance to develop their skills at the North Yorkshire County Netball Academy as the sport's strength flies high.

Just under 20 girls made the grade at recent trials and will now attend training sessions at Harrogate.

The U16 and U18 squads will play in the English Counties league alongside adult county teams, while the U14s will have around three matches against other counties.

U14s: Rebecca Barton (Millthorpe); Seona McLinden (Millthorpe); Fiona Bolland (The Mount); Rachel Wood (Joseph Rowntree); Maddie Hardy, Calista Hutchinson-Jones, Hattie Kenworthy, Bethany Kilbride, Natalie Klays (all All Saints).

U16s: Bethany Penhaligon, Megan Corner (both All Saints); Sam Colman (Manor).

U18s: Sophie Addison (All Saints); Polly Mennell (AS/York College); Erin Alderson-Tuck (Bootham); Natalie Elliot (Huntington); Emma Stone (Mill/YC).

Round one of the England Netball National Schools' Competition has kicked into gear with four teams through to the county round.

In the U14s it was a four-way battle between All Saints, Joseph Rowntree, Huntington and Queen Margaret's. But it was Jo Ro and All Saints that went through after finishing level on points with All Saints crowned area champions on goal difference.

Several matches were decided by two goals or less in a tense and taut tournament.

All Saints beat Huntington 9-8 and then saw off Queen Margaret's by just two goals. Huntington eased past QM, as did Joseph Rowntree, but were then beaten 8-6 by Jo Ro to rule them out of the race.

It came down to a virtual face-off between All Saints and Jo Ro, and Rowntree leapt into a 3-0 lead. All Saints clawed it back to 3-1 at half-time but then found another gear as the final whistle blew at 5-5.

Both teams qualified for the Ashville College, Harrogate, county round on November 19 but All Saints lifted the trophy by virtue of a three-better goal difference.

Other teams in action were Millthorpe, Archbishop Holgates, Bootham and The Mount.

Six of the eight schools entered teams into the 'B' tournament. Queen Margaret's won the secondary prize after beating Jo Ro 4-0, All Saints 9-2, second-placed Huntington 2-0, Millthorpe 10-1 and Archbishop Holgates 3-0.

Joseph Rowntree made it through the U16 tournament as champions after beating Queen Margaret's 7-3 in the final.

Ten schools scrapped it out in two sections with Read School from Selby and Lowfield among those in action.

Jo Ro cruised through the league stage beating Archbishop Holgate's 12-4, Read 16-6, The Mount 13-1 and All Saints 9-5 to reach the semi-finals along with All Saints, who tied on points with Read but had a better goal difference.

The other league was won Queen Margaret's after a dominant session where Millthorpe 12-1, Bootham 10-2, Lowfield 12-3 and Huntington 11-2 all fell to their strength. Huntington finished second after losing only to the leaders, but were dumped out of the semis 15-1 by Jo Ro while Queen Margaret's put out All Saints 9-5.

Joseph Rowntree then made the most of their organised passing to beat QM 7-3 in the final. Both schools went through to the county round.

Updated: 10:27 Wednesday, October 19, 2005