Hartpury College produced an outstanding performance to win the Regional Schools’ Netball Championships.

The result in the under-19 category means the team qualifies for the national schools’ finals to be held in Sheffield next month.

Hartpury went into the competition at the Sir David English sports centre in Bournemouth as the reigning regional champions.

The team were in exceptional form throughout the competition, delivering a series of emphatic victories in the pool stages before progressing confidently through the knockout rounds to lift the regional title.

The result keeps Hartpury firmly on course to challenge for a third consecutive National Schools crown.

Hartpury’s shooting circle proved particularly clinical, with Neve Marsden scoring 116 goals at an 89 per cent success rate, while Lois Cowin added 54 goals at an impressive 91 per cent.

The team won their six pool games beating Richard Huish College from Taunton, Truro School, Canford School from Dorset, Clifton College, Exeter College and South Wiltshire Grammar School.

In the semi-final they beat King Edward’s School, Bath 26-4 and in the final overcame the challenge of Millfield School 13-6.

Holly Duerden, Netball Academy Manager at Hartpury, said: “The girls were exceptional all weekend. Their work rate, discipline and composure really stood out, and they executed what we’ve been working on superbly. Qualifying for National Schools again is a fantastic achievement and the focus now is on preparing well and giving the finals a really strong go as we look to achieve the three-peat.

“Attention now turns to a busy period for Hartpury College netball. “Alongside the National Schools Finals in March, the squad will also compete in the cup quarter-finals on March 4, the College Championships in April, and currently sit top of the AoC (Association of Colleges) Premier League, with multiple titles firmly in sight.”