Bishops Claim a clean sweep in Chester

Bishop’s Blue Coat High School won both the boys and girls competitions at the District High School Championships, recently held at the City’s Northgate Arena. The competition was for children in school year 9 and below and produced some incredibly exciting matches particularly in the girls’ competition.

In the boy’s competition Bishops were favourites to win the inaugural Chester title as their school not only contained several Deva HC players but they had established a good after school club, Broughton HC, thanks to an Award for All grant the previous September.

First game saw Bishops claim a comfortable 19-8 victory over Blacon High. Led by Deva HC’s Kelsall brothers, Jackson and Tom, Bishops showed their experience and despite the best efforts of Jordan Cunningham and Daniel Tasker they we never in danger of loosing the match.

The Sports College now had to pick them selves up and face a strong Christleton side. Tasker and Cunningham again proved the goals for Blacon but Ben Patterson and Sam Kass matched them goal for goal and the game ended in a well fought out 8-8 draw.

Bishops now knew that a draw would be good enough to claim the title, but they wouldn’t settle for that and again produced a powerful display to win 17-6 and claim the title.

However the girls’ competition was a totally different story. Bishop’s started the defence of the crown they won last year by easing to an early lead against Blacon High with Nicola and Kristy Garner leading the way with some excellent goals. However, Blacon fought back and the experience of former Deva players, Emma Hunter and Chantelle Parker, brought the Sports College back into the game which finished as a thrilling 9-9 draw.

Bishops where now straight back on against Christleton High and again they opened up a good lead with Katy Fabian joining the Garner twins on the score sheet with some powerful jump shooting. Chrislteton fought back and as the girls gained experience they started to claw their way back into the match with Rachel Treloar and Katie Hertiage finding the net from distance. Unfortunately time ran out for Christleton and Bishops got the 8-6 victory that the desperately needed.

So with Blacon up against Christleton in the final game, Bishops had to watch to see if they would retain their title. Blacon knew a victory by 3 or more goals would give them the title of District champions and they started as they meant to go on from the first whistle, with Hunter and Parker peppering the Christleton goal at every opportunity. Hunter racked up an incredible 6 goals as Blacon eased to a 2 goal lead at the interval. Parker now joined in and Blacon managed to open up a 4 goal lead that would see them claim the title. However, with 5 minutes to go Blacon began to tire and Christleton went on the attack with Treloar and Heritage again finding the net from distance. With the lead reduced to 2 goals Hannah Jones scored a fast attack and Blacon could feel the chance of the title slipping away. But there was still time for one last assault from Blacon with the knowledge that a 2 goal victory would give them a share of the title. Hunter again found some space to get in a powerful shot and with the ball seemed destined to nestle in the bottom corner the excellent Hannah Titchner in the Christleton goal stuck out a toe to deflect the shot wide. Seconds later the final whistle went and Bishops celebrated from the side lines as they retained their District title.