Tadcaster Grammar School's intermediate girls have reached the national finals of the English Schools Cross Country Cup.

They booked their place by winning the North East trial at Acklam School, Middlesbrough in great style.

Three of the team were in the national junior final last year when they finished eighth and they are confident of doing better when they go to Stowe School, Bucking-hamshire, on Saturday, December 1 to take on the cream of the country's runners.

Tadcaster were led home by Nicola Lampard, who finished fourth. She was backed up by Lauren Mason (12th), Lisa Collett (15th), Kate Hollier (21st) and Rhiannon Parsons (30th) to give them victory over Nunthorpe School, Middlesbrough.

Non-qualifiers included Newcastle Central high, King Edward VI (Morpeth) and Durham Johnson, who have all been regular national finalists in recent years.

Tadcaster's junior team just missed out on a place in the national finals by finishing fourth in Middlesbrough.

Their placings, from a field of 70 runners, were: Nina Batt (3rd), Charlotte Maxstead (9th), Helen Webster (30th), Tiggy Blanchflower (33rd).

Tadcaster's junior boys finished ninth with Jack Scott, in 11th place, being their first home.

The junior girls from Queen Margaret's School, Escrick, were eighth. Lucy Bennett-Baggs was their top finisher in 16th spot.

FOOTBALL

NORTH Yorkshire Under-16s got their English Schools' Premier League inter-county competition campaign off to a flier at Tadcaster Albion.

The North Yorkshire ranks downed their Durham visitors 3-1 in an event that has attracted the sponsorship of the FA Premier League.

Said team manager Neville Wharrier: "It was a great performance and an excellent result. The lads bossed the match throughout."

Craig Radcliffe from the Harrogate and Craven district set the hosts on their way with well-executed drives in the 25th and 44th minutes. Less than ten minutes into the second half, York and District's Neil Coleman headed in the third from a left-wing cross.

Though Durham pulled a goal back 15 minutes from time they could do little to disturb the dominance of the North Yorkshire ranks, who next play South Yorkshire at the Grimethorpe Colliery ground on Saturday.

They then play Cumbria at Risedale College, near Catterick Garrison, on November 17; Northumberland at Newcastle on November 24; and then Cleveland at Whitby Town FC in the first week of December on a date to be arranged.

North Yorkshire squad: David Pickles, Jason Roughley (captain), James Goodman, Adam Arthur, Craig Anderson, Neil Coleman, James Barrett (all York and District); Chris Gill, Craig Radcliffe, Ian O'Hare (all Harrogate and Craven); Sam Vernalls, David Cooke, Chris Garbutt (all Hambleton/ Richmond); Steven Marsden, John Maxwell, Dean Craig, Paul Hodgson (all Scarborough and District).

York City Boys U11s and U12s lost 2-1 and 6-0 respectively at Bradford last Saturday. Danny Smith was on target for the U11s.

NETBALL

NORTH Yorkshire's netballers suffered heavy defeats against Lancashire in their first representative matches of the season.

The Under 14 'A' team went down 45-10 while the 'B' team were defeated 31-8. Leanne Linsall was the 'A' team player of the match, while Rosie Wright took the award for the 'B' team.

Both sides were also beaten by their Red Rose counterparts at U16 level, the 'A' team going down 54-11 after opening the scoring, and the 'B' team 42-22.

Sammy Coulson and Lizzie McCall worked hard in centre court for the North Yorkshire girls.

The U16s were also beaten 39-7 and 37-15 by Merseyside 'A' and 'B' respectively.

Laura Smith, playing goal defence, made some excellent interceptions but could not prevent North Yorkshire 'A' from sliding to defeat.

Merseyside only secured their victory over the 'B' team, for whom Lorraine Waudby and Sarah Copley starred, in the final quarter.

The North Yorkshire Under 18s came within a whisker of ending Merseyside's domination when they were pipped 25-24.

Ahead after the first quarter, North Yorkshire fell behind but produced a stirring fightback in the final quarter but could not quite overhaul their opponents.

Debra Slater and Claire Gillick linked up well in attack and there was some fine defensive work from Rachel Hill and Katie Teasdale.

North Yorkshire U14 'A': Emma Maytes, Natasha Barr, Francesca Sharp, Natalie Elliott, Jo Wilkinson, Jenna Garnett, Leanne Linsall, Elena Foric.

North Yorkshire U14 'B': Steff Lauff, Laura Emery, Mel Ward, Natalie Whaite, Becky Bradley, Nicky Smith, Hannah Snelling, Rosie Wright, Charlotte Conelly, Edith Bourne.

North Yorkshire U16 'A': Jo Jenkins, Alli Bennett, Helen Barley, Nicola Bailey, Laura Smith, Amy Bullivant, Anneri Lamprecht. Reserves: Emma Wilson, Sarah Mallinson.

North Yorkshire U16 'B': Vicky Coates, Charlotte Boothroyd, Lizzie McCall, Sammy Coulson, Ruth Griffith, Lorraine Waudby, Sarah Copley. Reserves: Emily Fowler, Charlene Woodward.

RUGBY UNION

ST Peter's School have swept into the last 32 of a Daily Mail Under 15 National Cup competition.

The York boys won 25-3 at Bradford GS to stretch their unbeaten start to the season to 11 matches, which include victories over Ampleforth College, Manchester GS and Durham School.

St Peter's have amassed 490 points and conceded just 23. Mark Jagger and James Pang are joint-top scorers with 12 tries each.

At Bradford, No 8 Tom Woolsey was an inspiration in defence and attack, while Charlie Parry's accurate place-kicking made him an influential player.

Tries were scored by Woolsey, Alistair MacLeod and Parry, who added a further ten points with conversions and penalties.

St Peter's will entertain Stonyhurst College in the next round of the Daily Mail Cup which had an initial entry of 410 teams.

Ten members of their squad are vying for a place in the Yorkshire team, having progressed to next month's final trials at Queen Elizabeth's GS, Wakefield.

Pocklington School's first team gained a big 42-7 rugby union victory over St Peter's.

The comprehensive win by six tries to one saw the home side display a myriad of skills with half-backs Henry Mitchell and Richard Booth in outstanding form.

Galvanised by the early loss due to injury of county lock Rob Mills, Pocklington put sustained pressure on the visitors' line.

The floodgates opened in the second half with five tries. St Peter's only score came from an interception.

Updated: 11:51 Wednesday, November 14, 2001