School sport round-up

The Ryedale outfit drew the final with Silcoates, Wakefield, so the two schools shared the cup - St Martin’s name etched on it for the first time in its history.

From the outset of the tournament, St Martin’s played excellent hockey to notch convincing wins over Thirsk, Harrogate Grammar, QEGS Wakefield and Kettlethorpe to proceed to the semi-finals, where they beat Pocklington 2-1.

With sheer grit and determination they held Silcoates to a scoreless draw, and glory loomed when they put the ball in from a short corner - but it did not hit the backboard. The game went to extra time but again neither team was prepared to surrender and it was decided to share the trophy.

St Martin’s coach Paul Arnold said: “This was an exhibition of quality, control and discipline. It is a testament to the calibre of hockey at St Martin’s Ampleforth.”

The squad comprised James Barber, Finlay Breese, James Clements-Byren, Joshua Connor, Carlos de los Santos, Hector Denny, Alvaro Garcia, Ernesto Lopez, Juan Marques, Hugh Myers, Tom Tom Scott-Masson, Theo Smerdon.

Meanwhile, 12 cross-country runners from Pickering Community Junior School took part in the North Yorkshire finals at Catterick racecourse, following qualification via the Ryedale & Whitby event last November.

In the Year 4 race, Anya Potter-Firth won a superb bronze medal, the first-ever for the school in this competition, while Matilda Gledhill finished an excellent fifth.

There were up to 90 competitors in each event and a high percentage of the Pickering youngsters finished in the top half of the field.

Pickering Junior School’s Year 5/6 netball squad also had a successful evening at the Lady Lumley’s School cluster event.

Competing against Thornton Dale, St Joseph’s and Rosedale/Nawton, Pickering won all their games, scoring eight nets and conceding only one to come away as winners. Runners-up Rosedale/Nawton were to join in the Ryedale & Whitby finals.