Newport hit Queen’s for six in final

Newport Free Grammar School 6

The Queen's School 1

Newport Free Grammar School put in an impressive performance to win their first national competition at the Highfields Sports Centre in Nottingham by defeating the Queen's School from Chester in the National Schools Championship Under 16 Girls Plate Final.

The Queen's School had scored 21 goals and conceded just three in the previous five rounds and in their line up they had one Welsh international, another player who had played for the North of England and a further five players who have represented Cheshire, so Newport were set for a tough test.

The game started with Newport pressing forward, however, The Queen's School broke and forced three penalty corners in quick succession, but they couldn't breakdown the Newport defence.

Newport then broke down the right through Sophie Thomas who forced the ball past the keeper from a narrow angle for the crucial opening goal after just eight minutes.

Newport began to dominate and after 16 minutes Katherine Langridge added a second and just a minute later, Chloe Coles scored the third goal.

The second half again saw them dominant and Langridge added her second after 25 minutes and then a minute later completed her hat-trick after another run down the pitch by Thomasbefore she supplied the perfect cross.

Newport then relaxed slightly allowing Sophie Clough a clear chance to shoot which she converted to give Queen's a consolation goal.

Stung by this Thomas again attacked down the right supplying another perfect cross for Sophie Holmes to knock in the final goal.

Coach Gordon Scott said: "I am delighted. This is the first national tournament that we have won although we have come very close on a couple of previous occasions.