Newport Free Grammar School is celebrating after its under 18 girls hockey side were crowned county champions for the first time. They put in a super performance to win the Cambridgeshire Tournament, defeating favourites Saffron Walden County High in a te

Newport Free Grammar School is celebrating after its under 18 girls hockey side were crowned county champions for the first time.

They put in a super performance to win the Cambridgeshire Tournament, defeating favourites Saffron Walden County High in a tense final on penalty strokes.

Newport were suffering from injury problems and with just nine fit players, they drafted in Natalie Chandler and Flora Warren from year nine, but despite these setbacks they booked their place in the regional finals.

Newport won their pool by beating Kings School from Ely 1-0, with a fine individual goal from Katherine Langridge, and Thomas Deacon Academy from Peterborough 2-0, with goals from Langridge and Leanna Baldwin.

They were held to a 1-1 draw by Hills Road with Katherine Langridge scoring, but had done enough to book a semi-final clash with Kimbolton School.

Newport went on to win that clash 2-0 with Langridge adding both to her tally.

Walden took the lead in the final and had much of the pressure in the first half.

The second half saw Newport dominant and deservedly equalise when Warren deflected a fiercely struck free hit into the goal, taking the clash to penalty strokes.

Newport lost the toss and had to go first, but Suzanne Holmes calmly put the first one high and wide of the keeper to give Newport a crucial start.

Fiona Holmes then made an excellent save from Walden's first attempt. The keeper then made a good save from Langridge's stroke, but with Walden's two East of England players both miscuing, excellent strokes from Lauren Chandler and Molly Brooks meant that Newport won 3-0.

Coach Gordon Scott said: "They thoroughly deserved this result - they did not give up at any time and the younger players drafted in did exceptionally well."

They will now go on to play the champions of the other eastern counties on Wednesday November 28 at Redbridge for a place in the National Finals.