Runners-up spot for Our Lady’s

Teams from Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, West Lothian and North Lanarkshire heading to Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility for the big event.

Local regional tournaments had been played prior to Christmas with the top teams progressing to the National Championships.

North Lanarkshire were represented by Cumbernauld’s Our Lady’s High School in the girls competition and the boys competition, with the majority of players from the school also members of Tryst 77.

The format for both categories was a round robin with play-off matches and a final based on the final In the boys competition the teams were incredibly closely matched with no fewer than 11 games decided by only a two goal margin or less.

In the round robin group stage Our Lady’s managed wins against Glasgow’s Kelvinside Academy (4-3), and West Lothian’s Whitburn Academy (5-3) and Armadale Academy (8-6).They followed this up with a dramatic and last minute fightback to draw 8-8 with Deans Community Deans (Livingston) and Our Lady’s went through the group stage undefeated and ultimately met in the final.

In the girls competition all the teams were for the most part very evenly matched although Kelvinside did show a little bit more and seemed to be reaping the benefits of the significant handball programme they have put together at the school.

Marr College (Ayrshire) were their closest challengers but despite admirable resistance in the final, were unable to prevent the Glasgow side from charging to a 10-4 success.

Our Lady’s took on Armadale in the third/fourth play-off and finished third winning 4-0 in a game that swung from one end to the other.

The boys final between Deans and Our Lady’s was a fantastic climax to the day and was in keeping with the tense, close matches that had gone before.

After the excitement of the thrilling 8-8 draw in the group stages both teams staged another memorable match that went down to the wire and the last throw of the ball. Deans emerged triumphant holding on in the last few seconds to win by seven goals to six.

Congratulations go to all teams for offering up a competitive, exciting and enjoyable day of handball.

Next up is the S3/S4 championships which will again be held at Ravenscraig Regional Sports facility with Abronhill High School and Our Lady’s High School representing North Lanarkshire in the girls’ competition.

Girls: A Thomas, K McGowan, R McMullen , C Croall, C Chan, H O’Brien, E Brown, M Bryan

Boys: S Panas, C Gray, A Semple, G Goldie, P Leonard, G Elliot, P O’Donnell, J Diamond, R Connelly.