JOSEPH Rowntree under 16s are the new county netball champions.

The school's U-19 side also finished joint winners during the County Round National Schools tournament at Ashville College in Harrogate.

Rowntree's U-16s gained revenge against local rivals Queen Mary's for an earlier defeat in the York round with a 7-2 victory and they went on to beat Thirsk (10-5), Harrogate (5-4), Pindar (10-1) and Whitby (14-4). Their only defeat came against Ashville (4-10) but that did not prevent them from winning the tournament and booking a place in the regional finals.

Team: Melanie Ward (captain), Steff Lauff, Kathryn Ward, Katie Aldous, Helen Jamieson, Jenna Garnett, Edith Bourne, Sarah Welsh.

The U-19s played some fantastic netball to beat Thirsk (17-3), St Aidan's (15-7), Harrogate (13-6), Queen Mary's (15-3), Scarborough Sixth Form (16-6) and Lady Lumleys (17-5).

Rowntree's only defeat was against Stokesley (6-11), who were in turn beaten by Harrogate, meaning the two schools shared overall victory and booked places in the next round at Sheffield on January 24.

Squad: Nicola Bailey (captain), Jenni Bailey, Danni Colquhoun, Emily Fowler, Kate Ellis, Katie Caffrey, Heather Welsh, Heather Rogers, Lorraine Waudby, Kathryn Cordell, Kelly Cameron.

Rowntree's U-14s fought back from 4-2 to win their first match against Queen Mary's 5-4 but could only finish third overall.

They also beat Thirsk (5-4), Ashville (10-5), Ryedale (10-1) and Scalby (8-6) but lost to Easingwold (7-8) and Harrogate Grammar (4-9).

Updated: 09:39 Wednesday, November 26, 2003