Berkhamsted bring home Under 14 Championship title

Berkhamsted claimed the Under 14 National Schools Championship title after defeating St Catherine’s 3-1 in a tight final on Day 4 in Aldershot.

The Hertfordshire school were extremely free scoring throughout the group stages, defeating North London Collegiate (7-1), Queen Anne’s Caversham (7-1), Sherborne (10-0), and St George’s Harpenden (5-2).

However, they were defeated by Guildford High (2-1), but as one of the best placed 2nd place teams, still advanced through to the afternoon’s knockout stages.

They faced group winners St Albans in the quarter-finals but were not put off, winning 4-2, before then recording another 4-2 victory against Putney High, the U13 winners from last year and strong at the U14 category, in the semi-final to meet the undefeated St Catherine’s.

St Catherine’s, meanwhile, had a perfect route through to the knockouts, overcoming Withington (3-2), Habs Girls (3-1), Walthamstow Hall (5-0), and Lady Eleanor Holles (3-0) top their group.

First they recorded a comfortable 4-1 win against St Helen & St Katharine in the quarters, before then seeing off Birkenhead in the semi-final by an impressive six goals to one, a side who beaten Berkhamsted’s victors from earlier in the day Guildford in the previous round.

In the final, it was an end-to-end contest with both teams doing well on a heavy pitch at the end of a long day.

Berkhamsted moved into a two-goal lead with some accurate shooting and strong defending before a classy quick stick finish brought St Cat’s back into it.

Another save from the Berkhamsted goalie denied a free position to tie it before they were able to go down the other end and restore the two-goal advantage.

St Cat’s tried to make another comeback but Berkhamsted’s defence continued to give away nothing and saw the game through to the end leading to well-deserved celebrations.