DANE Ghyll stormed to victory in the Furness Schools High-Five Netball finals at Hoops.

The Barrow school rounded off a successful group stage with a 7-4 win over Yarlside Academy in the final to take a third successful crown.

Six Year 5 and 6 teams – made up of four girls and three boys – contested the event, having qualified with impressive displays in their primary school clusters events.

Both Dane Ghyll and Yarlside had come through the Furness Academy finals, where Dane Ghyll had again pipped their opponents in the final match to take the title.

In the group stages, Dane Ghyll saw off the challenge of Holy Family and Chetwynde, while Yarlside topped the table against Ulverston St Mary’s and Askam Village School.

Matches were played concurrently in the two groups, with sports leaders from Dowdales School helping to control the action in their roles as umpires. Each game was split into four quarters, with members of the seven-player squad rotating between the five positions on court at the end of each period.

Different skillsets are required for the goalkeeper, goal defender, centre, goal attacker and goal shooter, with some of the youngsters showing great ability in one area of the court, but having to battle in another.

Various passing styles were on display from the teams, with some choosing to pick out team-mates with lofted balls over the top of opponents and others going instead for bounce balls through crowds of legs.

Sometimes players went to ground as they collided going for the ball, but they were quickly back up and into the flow of the matches.

Reaction was key and players who missed the ball from a pass one moment still stood ready, knowing that at any moment the ball could take a deflection and come back to them. A number of attacks were built on such happenings, with quick counter-attacks allowing sides to flow downfield and catch opponents out.

When the ball reached the shooting circle, there were contrasting methods of going for the hoop as well, from the calm, composed routines, taking time to line up an effort to the quick snap shots. Both were effective at different times, though team-mates had to choose carefully where to stand as the shots come in and be ready for rebounds – sometimes as many as four shots in a row came in.

Steady feet were essential, with players often receiving the ball close to the net but with their backs to it. Only one foot could move once the ball was taken and even the slightest twitch could result in the blow of the referee’s whistle.

At the end of the group stages, it was Dane Ghyll and Yarlside who had used these various skills to good effect to set up the final.

The first quarter was nip-and-tuck, with Dane Ghyll going 1-0 up with the first shot of the match, but Yarlside responded quickly to level.

Dane Ghyll made it 2-1, but the quarter ended level as a Yarlside shot bounced around the hoop before going in.

The second quarter belonged to the defending champions, who went 4-2 ahead thanks to two quick scores. Yarlside struck back at the start of the third period with the first shot of the quarter, before their opponents started to pull away.

Two fine shots from Kathryn Pennick, both lined up with aplomb, made it 6-3 and it stayed that way with just one quarter left.

Dane Ghyll added another in the final quarter, before Yarlside netted a consolation.

Dane Ghyll will go on to represent Furness in the Cumbria School Games in Carlisle in July.