AFTER winning the district tournament last month, The Chase Year 9 netball team went through to the county tournament at South Bromsgrove High School on Saturday.

Having had a tough group to contend with, they came through triumphant to qualify for the semi-finals, playing Bromsgrove.

At half-time, they were losing 2-7 but they picked up their game to come back and win 10-8, playing their best netball to date. The final was against Kings. They finished runners-up but this still qualified them for the regional finals on January 21.

Stacey Crow, their coach and a teaching assistant at the school, said: "After being runners-up last year in the district tournament, the girls set out with the clear goal to win the district finals this year, and to play better netball all year. I am delighted that they have achieved this. Until the county tournament, they have been undefeated in sixteen games, only losing to Kings at this year's county tournament.

"They have been a credit to the school and have shown strong determination to improve as netball players. They have devoted many hours in order to improve their game and technique. This has paid off, as evidenced by their recent excellent success."

Team members are Rosie Smith, Jenny White, Laura Maguire, Lizzie Gorton, Anna Bird, Kate Knowles, Amelia Daley and Nina Moore.