BURY Grammar School for Girls under-14s netball team has qualified for the national schools finals after being crowned North West champions.

The girls will take on the country's best sides at the Roedean School in Brighton on Saturday, March 19.

They qualified after beating Fallibroome Academy, of Macclesfield, 8-3 in the regional finals.

Coach Maggie Eady said: “The girls have shown real dedication training regularly after school and at lunchtime since the beginning of September.

"They are highly motivated and have an exceptionally strong will to win. They are going to be hard to beat.

"This is a wonderful achievement and we are looking forward to the challenge of taking on teams from across the country."

They coasted to victory against Fallibroome thanks to goals from Natasha Smith and Molly Whitlow, a sound defensive unit in Alicia Gillespie, Danielle Morrison and Lancashire County star Sophie Taylor, as well as great leadership from skipper Eve Armstrong.

"We play as a team, there are no stars and no individuals, it's all about the unit," said Armstrong. "We play hard and train hard and enjoy every second.”

The tight-knit team had previously beaten Stockport Grammar School, King William College from the Isle of Man, Wirral Grammar School, All Hallows and Sedbergh.

The girls were inspired on their march to the finals by a visit from Great Britain coach Tracey Neville, who grew up in Greenmount.