JOSEPH Rowntree School's Under-15 netballers recaptured the Yorkshire and Humberside title at Wolfreton School, Hull.

They won the trophy in 2002 and did it again this time with a 4-1 win over Bradford Grammar School in the final.

Jo Ro had beaten Bradford 6-3 earlier in the day in their section, in which they also defeated St Mary's 10-2, Abbey Grange 6-5, St Aidan's 12-1 and Harrogate 10-1 to set up a semi-final meeting with Hull, who they beat 10-1.

York rivals All Saints also made it through to the semi-finals, despite forfeting one game after a mix-up, but lost 8-7 in extra time of a real thriller against Bradford.

Jo Ro's team comprised Cheryl Fairclough (capt), Nina Malton, Hannah Errington, Sarah Welsh, Emily Armstrong, Rose Wright, Alice Lawrenson and Nicola Paget.

All Saints made it through to the U13 final where they lost 8-4 in torrential rain to Harrogate - their first defeat in two years.

All Saints are the current York and District champions and will be defending their title on Wednesday, March 24.

They had topped their section, including a 3-2 victory over city rivals Jo Ro, who lost defender Olivia Lawrenson early on through injury.

All Saints beat Scarborough College 8-4 in their semi-final, while Jo Ro also progressed to the last four where they lost 5-3 to Harrogate.

Jo Ro's only section defeat came against All Saints. They beat Ashville 6-2, Hull High 5-3, Old Hall 8-0 and All Saints 'B' 9-1.

Millthorpe missed out on a semi-final spot after finishing third in their section.

All Saints 'B' team was made up of U12 players in their first tournament experience and they managed to win a couple of games.

The defeats were their first since their formation last September and they will be in strong contention for the U12 York and District title when that tournament takes place on March 20.

Three York and District teams were travelling to Thirsk today in search of a hat-trick in the final annual Inter-Area 'Cluster' tournament.

York have won the first two 'Cluster' tournaments at U16 and U19 level, with the U14s winning the first tournament and finishing runner-up in the second.

York U14s: Sam Coleman (Manor), Annie Galbraith, Charlotte Jopling (Queen Margaret's), Emily Shaw, Emily Mantle, Catherine Fowler (Joseph Rowntree), Holly Neal, Harriet Hobbs (Millthorpe), Grace McCormick and Amy Hargreaves (All Saints).

York U16s: Emma Stone Lucy Shaw (Millthorpe), Helen Jamieson, Mel Ward and Cheryl Fairclough (Joseph Rowntree), Victoria Crapper, Abigail Bedford, Erin Alderson-Tuck (Bootham), Georgina Collinge (All Saints), Venetia Philipps (Queen Margaret's).

York U19s: Jeni Bailey, Emily Fowler, Katie Ellis, Nicola Bailey, Katie Caffrey, Heather Welsh, Kelly Cameron, Dani Colquhoun (Joseph Rowntree), Anna Jackson, Gabby Barr (Queen Margaret's).

FOOTBALL

Tadcaster Grammar School were heading to Sunderland today to tackle Southmoor Community School in the quarter-finals of the Coca-Cola English Schools FA Northern Schools Cup.

They booked their place in the last eight with a 1-0 home win over Stokeley thanks to a Lee Andrews-Murphy goal on 40 minutes.

The substitute netted after an effort from Tadcaster skipper Tom Wilson hit the bar.

Tadcaster got off to a flying start with Jack Crowley, Ryan Carlyle and Wilson all forcing good saves from the Stokesley goalkeeper. But they had to settle for a 1-0 win in a tight game.

The Northern finals will be held at Middlesbrough's Riverside stadium and a win there will put the teams into the national finals which will be held at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground on May 20.

CROSS COUNTRY

LARA Gibbs (St Peter's School) produced a superb run to finish eighth in the English Schools Cross Country Championships at Maidstone in Kent.

She ran a well judged race, cutting through a field of 290 senior girls runners on a demanding course to achieve the highest finish by any of the York and District runners.

David MacQuarrie, who is in his last year at Sherburn School, produced his best form of recent years to finish 25th in the senior boys' race. Ampleforth College's Ed Guiver came home in 85th place.

Manor School's Tom Bean overcame a bad fall in the 325-strong inter boys' race and recovered to 43rd place. Biathlon specialist Phillip Graves (Archbishop Holgate's) was 139th.

The full York results were:

Senior boys: 25 David MacQuarrie (Sherburn), 85 Ed Guiver (Ampleforth College). 290 ran.

Inter boys: 43 Tom Bean (Manor), 139 Philip Graves (Archbishop Holgates), Alastair Smith (Manor) did not finish. 325 ran.

Junior boys: 137 Michael Williams (Holy Family), 265 Iain Lynn (Manor). 320 ran.

Senior girls: 8 Lara Gibbs (St Peter's), 266 Ruth Tinsley (York College). 290 ran.

Inter girls: 108 Charlotte Maxted (Tadcaster), 154 EmmaWilllits (Fulford), 327 Laura Hunter (Millthorpe). 340 ran.

Junior girls: 69 Vicky Graves (Archbishop Holgate), 91 Sophie Hunter (Millthorpe), 118 Elizabeth Eden (Queen Margaret's), 125 Victoria Needham (Canon Lee). 330 ran.

More Schools Sport will be published in tomorrow's Eve-ning Press, featuring hockey, rugby league and athletics.

Updated: 10:45 Wednesday, March 17, 2004