The North East Handball Schools Games at South Shields’ Temple Park Leisure Centre today saw four local schools win through to next month’s national finals.
Organised by the England Handball Association in partnership with Newcastle Vikings Handball Club, the day saw an entertaining and highly competitive mix of Under-13 and Under-15 boys and girls matches.
South Shields’ St. Wilfrid’s RC College won the U13 girls cup, defeating both Ponteland’s Richard Coates Middle School 2-1 and then Chester-le-Street’s Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy 3-0. The two defeated sides then drew 2-2, with Richard Coates Middle School taking the runners-up spot on goals scored.
The Under-13 boys competition was ultimately decided on goals scored after each of the three teams won one and lost one. Wallsend’s Churchill Community College beat Richard Coates Middle School 2-1, Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy defeated Churchill Community College 4-0, before Richard Coates Middle School then won 3-2 over Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy, with Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy narrowly taking the title having scored the most goals overall.
Washington’s Oxclose Community Academy won the U15 boys cup with an extra-time 3-2 victory over Newcastle’s Gosforth Academy after a last-minute equaliser by Gosforth had levelled the scores 2-2 at the end of normal time. However, with Washington’s Biddick Academy unable to make it, Gosforth Academy claimed the U15 girls title unchallenged.
The winning schools will go on to represent the North East region at the English Schools Handball Finals on 10 and 11 June at Worcester University.
Newcastle Vikings Handball Club would like to thank all the schools who took part and wish the winners the very best of luck in next month’s national finals. We would also like to thank Andy Clark from the England Handball Association for coming up to help run today’s tournament.