HOCKEY: TENSE penalty shoot-outs in the semi-final and the final saw Saint Martin’s School Year Nine girls crowned champions of the Under 14 Midlands Zone of the National Schools Championship.
Saint Martin’s beat off stiff competition from rivals Solihull School and King Edward’s High School to win the tournament.
Their efforts mean they will now represent the West Midlands in the Midlands Round of the competition on November 9 at Bablake School in Coventry.
Two draws and a victory in their group gave the team a passage to the semi-final where they took on neighbours Solihull School.
The tough semi final ended 0-0, resulting in penalty shuffles which, thanks to the sterling efforts of Goalkeeper Sharondip, saw Saint Martin’s emerge victorious, setting up a final showdown with King Edward’s High School.
Despite opening the scoring, King Edward’s came back with an equalising goal, taking the final through to penalty shuffles too.
Saint Martin’s held their nerve again though, and ran out worthy winners.
Head of PE Mrs Burgess said: “Well done to all of the players who showed a superb all-round team performance.
“It was an extremely long and tiring evening, but the team were a credit to Saint Martin’s.
“Huge congratulations to Amelia, Sharondip, Nina, Ellie, Grace, Marianne, Sophie, Charlotte, Ella, Grace, Karis, Joanna and Francesca.”
