BELGIUM would have been the team to watch at Euro 2004 - had the qualified - if a recent schools tournament proves to be a pre-cursor to success in Portugal.

Three York primary schools ran out in different international colours in the Yorkshire Water-backed competition at Huddersfield's Syngenta sports fields during the bank holiday weekend.

Archbishop of York Primary school's boys team wore the Holland away shirts with the girls as France away, while Huntington Primary and Derwent Junior schools took part in the 16-team tournament as Portugal home and away.

All four teams failed to make it through the group stages but still went home with medals presented by sports minister Richard Caborn and water-related goodies including drinks bottles and cooling jugs as part of Yorkshire Water's campaign to promote hydration during sport.

The final was contested by Nessfield Primary School from Bradford as Belgium against Gomersal Middle School of Leeds as Holland - and it was the 'Belgians' that finished on top even though they did's actually make it to the finals of the competition proper.

CRICKET

YORK Schools' cricket fixtures for next Thursday, June 17, are:

Group A Under 13: Lowfield v Sherburn, Barlby v Minster, Huntington v Manor, Fulford v Tadcaster.

Group A Under 15: Tadcaster v Fulford, Manor v Huntington. Barlby and Sherburn both have a free week.

Group B Under 13: Burnholme v Joseph Rowntree, Millthorpe v Oaklands, All Saints v Bootham, Archbishop's v Canon Lee.

Group B Under 15: Bootham v All Saints, Oaklands v Millthorpe, Joseph Rowntree v Burnholme, Archbishop's has a free week.

The U12 and U14 Cricket Cup semi-finals are scheduled to be played on Wednesday, June 30.

All finals are to be played at venues to be confirmed (with 2pm start):

Monday, July 12, Under 12 cup final; Tuesday, July 13, Under 13 League play-off; Wednesday, July 14, Under 14 cup final; Thursday, July 15, Under 15 League final

TENNIS

ALL the matches in the York Nestl Tennis League should have been completed.

If any schools have any outstanding matches these should be completed by Friday, June 18. All results should be sent to Miss E Hooley at Bootham School, 51 Bootham, York, YO30 7BU.

The State Schools' tennis fixtures for next week are:

Boys: Sherburn v Huntington, All Saints v Tadcaster, Manor v Fulford, Joseph Rowntree has a free week.

Girls: Huntington v Sherburn, Tadcaster v All Saints, Joseph Rowntree v Millthorpe, Fulford v Manor.

Updated: 11:12 Wednesday, June 09, 2004