Berkhamsted (U14), Putney High (U16) and Hartpury College (U19) have been crowned 2024 National Schools Finals champions, in association with the British Army.
The weekend was a fitting finale of brilliant netball at Oundle School in Northamptonshire as the competition, which approximately 1,500 schools have taken part in over the course of the season, concluded.
For the first time, all the action was streamed and available to watch live on englandnetball.tv.
After lifting the trophy in 2023, Putney High (London & South East) were back to attempt to defend their title.
They started strongly, finishing the round-robin stage as the only unbeaten U14 team (eight wins) and eight points clear of nearest Group A challengers Berkhamsted (East) and Cheadle Hulme (North West).
With six wins and two defeats each to their name, it boiled down to goal average to separate Berkhamsted and Cheadle Hulme and decide who would make the semi-finals with the East-based side having the better record (2.08 vs. 1.78).
King’s School Macclesfield (North West) almost enjoyed a perfect run to the semi-finals with a narrow 7-9 defeat to St Albans the only blot on their copy book as they topped Group B.
Despite a 15-14 final group game defeat to Sevenoaks School (London & South East), who ended up finishing third in the table, Yarm School (North East) came through the round-robin stage once again hoping to improve on their fourth-place finish in 2023.
There was hardly anything to separate the teams in the semi-finals with both games being decided by a single goal with reigning champions Putney High beating Yarm School 12-11 and Berkhamsted getting the upper hand over King’s School Macclesfield in extra time (12-13).
When the two finalists met earlier in the day, Putney High came out on top, but it was Berkhamsted, who didn’t qualify for last year’s U14 Finals, who seized their chance and recorded a 3-8 victory to take the trophy. In the third-place play-off, Yarm School proved too strong for King’s School Macclesfield with a comfortable 18-8 triumph.
For the key role she played in her team’s competition victory, Emma Beeby from Berkhamsted was named Gilbert Netball U14 Player of the Tournament.
With neither the 2023 champions nor runners-up returning to the Finals, the U16 age category was wide open.
In the U16 age category, Withington (North West – Group C) and Solihull School (West Midlands – Group D) topped their respective sections after both winning all their opening stage fixtures.
They were joined in the semi-finals by the Hertfordshire & Essex High School (East – runners-up Group D), who recorded five wins and three defeats, and pipped Hurstpierpoint College (South) to second on goal average, and Putney High (London & South East – runners-up Group C, who started off with six victories, two losses.
The semi-finalists gave their all in a bid to make the showpiece event as two fierce on-court battles played out. Withington kept up their momentum to secure a 9-7 win against the Hertfordshire & Essex High School, while Putney High downed Solihull School 8-10.
There was no stopping Withington in the final as they completed a clean sweep (8-14) to get their hands on the silverware. Solihull School ended their competition on a high, winning 9-12 to take the bronze medal – a marked improvement on their previous placing.
Timi Adawale, who played an integral role in her school’s journey to lifting the trophy, scooped the Gilbert Netball U16 Player of the Tournament accolade.
With reigning U19 champions Berkhamsted (East) not qualifying for the finals this year, the stage was set for a new team to make their mark and lift the trophy.
Last year’s runners-up Hartpury College (South West) came into the competition hoping to go one better and immediately laid down a marker of intent, winning seven and drawing one of their first stage round-robin matches in Group E while recording the highest goal average at 1.94. They made it to the semi-final against Wellington College (South) who finished as runners-up of Group F with six wins, one draw and one loss totalling 34 points to their names.
The winners of the first stage in Group F by two points were Sir John Deanes (North West – won six, drew two) who set up a semi-final crunch clash with Group E runners-up Stowe (South) who started the opening stage brightly with six wins, one draw and one defeat.
The semi-finals saw two hotly contested games with Stowe School narrowly edging out Sir John Deanes by a single goal (8-9) while Hartpury continued their fine form running out 16-10 victory over Wellington College to set up a South vs. South final.
Finding themselves in the same position as last year but determined to not fall at the final hurdle, Hartpury College showed their quality in a 10-3 win against Stowe School to get their hands on the trophy. Meanwhile, Sir John Deanes once again fell on the wrong side of a slender one-goal defeat with Wellington College snatching third with an 11-10 victory.
After a series of impressive performances, Hartpury College’s Caitlin Brand was awarded the Gilbert Netball U19 Player of the Tournament accolade.
Along with crowning the National Schools champions for each age group, the newly named Pam Telford Endeavour Award was also awarded. Named after Pam Telford, who recently retired as the Lead Competition Referee for the National Schools Finals having been involved in the competition both nationally and in the South West for over 40 years, the award was presented to the individual or team in each age division who displays sportsmanship and respect throughout the tournament. Congratulations to Whitburn C of E Academy (U14), Hertfordshire & Essex High School (U16) and Durham Johnston Comprehensive School (U19).
The British Army, who are principal partners of the event, Physique Management, who are the Official Physiotherapy Partner of the event, Gilbert and DYNAMIK Sports Flooring all supported the weekend’s event and all teams in attendance.
A full list of all the results, as well as the final standings, from the U14, U16 and U19 competitions can be viewed here.
A huge thank you to all the players, coaches, support staff, umpires, officials, volunteers, partners, spectators and staff at Oundle School for a brilliant weekend of competition.
