Monday 16 May, 2005
Yesterday ten Telstars girls played for two of the schools
in the National Schools Finals at Redbridge. Lizzie Atkins, Katie
Bollom, Louise Brown, Harriet Denvir, Samantha Herron, Caroline
Hills, Annie Hodge, Katie Murray and Lucy Taylor represented
Bromley High in the U16s. Phil Webb captained Maidstone Grammar
U19s.
Bromley High U16s and Maidstone Grammar U19s qualified for the
Finals by winning their respective Kent Schools age groups and
then succeeding at The South East Schools Regional competition.
The top 18 schools in each age group (U14, U16, U19), two from
each of the nine regions nationally, met in yesterday’s
Finals. There were two groups of nine schools for the round robin
stage with the top two schools from each group qualifying for
the semi finals. Maidstone Grammar U19s and Bromley High U16s
played well in the very competitive group stage to both finish
in the top two and go through to their age group semi finals!
In the semis Maidstone U19s met Moulsham from Essex, last year’s
U16 champions. It was a tight game with Maidstone having the
edge at half time. Moulsham came out strongly in the second half
with scoring going goal for goal. Maidstone capitalised on their
final turnover scoring to win 7-6 and go through to the Final.
In their semi-final Bromley High U16s met Bablake from Birmingham,
unbeaten in the other round robin group, and in a close game
Bromley played with total commitment and determination to win
10-8.
In the U19 Final Maidstone met Holy Cross from Bury who had
beaten them comfortably in the group stage. Maidstone gave every
ounce of energy to keep the score at 3-3 in the first half. In
the second half Holy Cross came out strongly and were in a class
of their own despite Maidstone battling hard and making interceptions
up to the final whistle. The final score 12-6 to Holy Cross.
In their Final Bromley High U16s met old rivals Nottingham High,
another Girls Day School Trust School, in a very close and exciting
game. The play was end to end with both teams matching each other
goal for goal until in the second half Bromley went ahead 9-7
but Nottingham somehow pulled it back. At the end of normal time
the score was level at 9-9. Extra time of 2 minutes each way
had to be played with Nottingham High just edging ahead as time
ran out with the score at 12-11. It was a truly great Final with
excellent play from both teams.
For both Kent schools to reach their age group finals in the
prestigious National Schools Championships Finals is an incredible
achievement everyone should be very proud of. Congratulations
to both teams and their teachers.
