Hockey Altrincham get stick Arnold School’s hockey players expected some of their toughest games of the season against Altrincham GS but produced some outstanding results. The first XI took an early lead through Sophie Oliver goal and the Wales Under-16 international added two more before half-time after fine play by Aime Knighton and Rebecca Shillito. Altrincham pulled one back to make it 3-1 at the break. Hannah Akhtar made some good saves in a fine second half and Georgia Perkins sealed the 4-1 win from a penalty corner. Arnold took the lead 15 minutes into the Second XI through Georgia Zaryckyj, after a fine through ball from Stephanie Lees. Altrincham soon equalised and it remained 1-1, with sweeper Melissa Gulciman and midfielder Natalie Aspin outstanding for Arnold. A close Under-15 game saw Arnold take an early lead with a fine individual goal from captain Harley Greene. They were forced to defend well and Emily Pomeroy made a fine save save before Georgina Read eased the pressure by scoring Arnold’s second with 10 minutes left. An Altrincham goal fine minutes later set up an exciting finish but Arnold held on. The Under-14 A game was another 2-1 nailbiter between two sides who will contest Friday’s North Final of the National Schools’ competition. Lara Cherry gave Arnold the lead but it was 1-1 by half-time. Good saves by Roxanne Reynolds kept Arnold level and a late Olivia Stead goal gave Arnold their win. The classy under-13s romped to a 5-1 win with goals by Holly Monteiro (2) Hannah Hesketh, Meghan Fearn and Sophie Calvert. Player of the match was Hannah Threlfall. Jessica Omassoli scored a hat-trick in the under-12A’s 6-2 win. The other goals came from Courtney Spector (2) and Emily Owen. The Under 12B game was much closer, Lucy Dale scoring the only goal after good work on the right from Abby Taylor. Kirkham declare home rule KIRKHAM Grammar School boys saw off all comers to win a tournament they hosted. Local rivals Arnold and Rossall competed, along with King’s (Chester), Birkenhead High, Orme House and Heathfield. Kirkham beat Rossall and Orme House in their pool but lost to King’s, resulting in a semi-final against Arnold. Kirkham won a hard-fought match 2-0 to earn a rematch against Kings in the final, when a determined effort took them to victory. n KGS girls completed the term with a clean sweep of victories at Bradford Grammar. Captain Jenny Bowden led the way in the first team’s 8-0 win, scoring two fine goals from short corners. The second XI won 2-1, the under-15s 2-1, the under-14s 5-0, the under-13s 12-0, the under-12 A 9-0 and the under-12 B 6-0. Cardinal class acts CARDINAL Allen School reigned supreme in the Blackpool Hockey Development schools tournaments. The Fleetwood school won all its games in the Year 10 competition without conceding a single goal. Lytham were runners-up and Baines third in a tournament in which Carr Hill, Montgomery, Palatine and St Bede’s also took part. A last-minute Cardinal Allen goal clinched victory over runners-up Carr Hill in the Year 8 tournament. Lytham were third, while Hodgson, Fleetwood, Lytham, Palatine and St Bedes all showed their potential. Five-star ace Katy King Edward and Queen Mary School maintained their fine form with a clean sweep of wins over Ormskirk. The senior side set the standard with a comprehensive 8-0 win thanks to two goals apiece from Hannah Shaw, Jordana Singleton and Sophie Owen, plus goals from Laura Pickervance and Megan Foy. The under-14s won 3-0, the under-13A 4-0 and the B team 9-0, five of them scored by player of the match Katy Lenney. The under-15 match was the closest and was settled by Melissa Bentley’s last-minute goal from a corner. Email us and tell us about your stories!