DOZENS of York primary school children have taken part in their first hockey tournament at Lowfield School - eight weeks after picking up a hockey stick for the first time.

Lowfield School sports co-ordinator Allyson Rae spent two months introducing children at the four hub primary schools to the sport culminating in an six-a-side tournament at the school.

Each of the four Lowfield hub schools - Hob Moor, Poppleton Road, Acomb and Copmanthorpe - sent mixed teams and Poppleton Road swept the board in the league format, finishing first and second.

School sports co-ordinator Allyson Rae said: "It's been the highlight of my year. They picked everything up so quickly and the skill level involved was tremendous. Some of them just looked like naturals."

Whole year groups were introduced to the sport during lesson time using Lowfield equipment.

Rae is now hopeful that the schools will continue to play - and she is appealing for players with disused sticks to get in touch so she can pass them on to schools without their own gear.

She added: "The focus always tends to be on football in school, where only a few people are going to be successful. But they could actually be quite successful in hockey if they give it a go."

TENNIS

Second Schools' Tennis

Nestl Team Tennis League

Girls Under 13: Pocklington 5, St Olaves 1. Girls Under 15: St Peter's 4, The Mount 2; Bootham 4, Tadcaster 2. Boys Under 13: Tadcaster 5, Bootham 1. Boys Under 15: Bootham 4, Tadcaster 2.

sport@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, June 01, 2005