Back 25 March 19 _{- by Andy Pilling}

National Schools champions crowned in Nottingham

Three schools took the spoils at the National Schools Championships 2018/19 finals last week in Nottingham.

It was a clean sweep for Wycliffe College who claimed all three boys’ trophies, while Gosforth clinched two of the girls’ and King Edward’s lifted one.

With 435 players representing 87 schools competing across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 for the championship and plate titles, this season’s National Schools was the biggest in the championship’s 48^th year history.

In what proved the mouth-watering tie of the week, two formidable opponents collided in the Boys KS5 championship final. Wycliffe were competing for an unprecedented sweep of all Key Stage boys titles but standing in their way were Ackworth who had beaten every team on their way to the final. The final lived up to the hype with a back and forth contest with Wycliffe edging their opponents to complete an incredible sweep of all boys titles.

Tied at 2-2 in the decider, Gosforth Academy claimed the Girls KS5 title overcoming a dominant Kenilworth side.

In a repeat of the KS3 final, Wycliffe and Truro resumed their rivalry with both teams facing off in the Boys KS4 championship final. In what was to prove another pulsating match, Truro were unable to avenge their loss with Wycliffe taking home the crown.

King Edward’s High School produced an emphatic performance in the earlier rounds to progress to the Girls KS4 final where they defeated a strong Dame Allan’s side to be crowned champions.

In one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the week, Boys KS3 top seeds Wycliffe and Truro met in the final with Wycliffe emerging victorious.

In an exciting Girls KS3 Championship, the finals went right to the wire with defending champions Gosforth Trust edging St Joseph’s in the decider, winning 13-11.

National Schools Championships 2018/19 – main final results

Key Stage5
Boys KS5 champions – Wycliffe
Girls KS5 champions – Gosforth Academy

Key Stage 4
Boys KS4 champions – Wycliffe
Girls KS4 champions – King Edward’s

Key Stage 3
Boys KS3 champions – Wycliffe
Girls KS3 champions – Gosforth Trust

Plate finals

In the Boys KS5 Plate finals, Exeter managed to scrape their way through a close encounter with Sevenoaks in the semi-final before confidently sealing the plate title against Abingdon in a thrilling final.

In the Girls KS5 Plate finals, top seeds Millfield and Downe House A managed to navigate their way through tricky groups before facing each other in the final. Millfield emerged triumphant in another tight game to be crowned Plate winners.

St Aidan’s stole the show in the Boys KS4 Plate competition, powering through to the final where they met stiff opposition in a motivated Sevenoaks team. St Aidan’s triumped with a 154-80 points victory to be crowned KS4 Plate Winners.

In the Girls KS4 Plate Finals, Downe House B Team managed to topple top seeds Cheltenham Ladies College in an exciting final to be crowned Plate winners.

In an incredible back and forth Boys KS3 Plate final, Millfield emerged triumphant by just four points against a dominant Nunthorpe side who competed until the very last point. In the 3^rd/4^th play-off Gosforth came out on top in another close match against John Hampden B.

The Girls KS3 Plate finals were dominated by Dame Allan’s, winning the maximum points available to them in a small round robin group as they were crowned winners with Wycombe High School and Tring finishing 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.