BEN Rhydding’s under-14 girls were in action at the England Hockey North championships on at Alderley Edge on Sunday where the winners of the four-team event would qualify for a place in next month's National Championships.

Ben Rhydding started tentatively against Leicester, but were soon on top, enjoying the majority of possession. Jemima Jagger and Amber Medway worked well in attack, forcing the Leicester defence back, with the midfield of Freya Bellamy and Imogen Sunman chasing down any loose ball and firing crosses back into the danger area.

Leicester dealt well with the barrage and Just as Sunman thought she had finally broken the deadlock with a fine shot from the left, hopes were dashed as the umpire’s whistle had already blown for a short corner.

As the game drew to a close, Ben Rhydding gained another short corner and this time made no mistake, as Evie Malir’s initial shot was parried into the path of Medway who gave her side a deserved victory.

Next up were Kirkby Lonsdale, and Rhydding were quickly into their stride, Katie Bagshaw working the ball up the right flank, with Rachel Scott distributing well from midfield. Kirkby Lonsdale had strong runners down their right, but Morse and Kara Milligan thwarted the attacking threat with some fine tackles.

Neat work by Evie Ramsbottom down the right soon earned Ben Rhydding a short corner, from which Malir despatched a trademark drag flick past the keeper. With Eva Hanlon joining the attacking foray, Ben Rhydding created more chances in the second half but Kirkby fought back valiantly, bringing out some superb tackling from Malir and Laurenne Pickard at the back.

Goalkeeper Stef Rose was in fine form all day, keeping Rhydding’s slender lead intact with some fine saves.

It was Bellamy who eased the nerves, firing home from open play after neat approach play from Bagshaw and Scott. Kirkby Lonsdale soon reduced the lead, latching onto a momentary lapse in concentration in the Rhydding defence to fire home an unstoppable strike, but Rhydding held on for 2-1 victory.

The final game was against host side Alderley Edge. Ben Rhydding had to win to go through as their opponents had a superior goal difference and only needed a draw.

Ben Rhydding gave their all. The defensive unit of Bagshaw, Malir, Pickard and Alicia Cumberland working tirelessly to deny the Alderley attack, with Rose keeping a deserved clean sheet with a number of fine saves.

Rhydding went agonisingly close to scoring through Bellamy and Sunman but a scoreless draw saw Alderley Edge bag their place at National finals.

Runners up Ben Rhydding should be justifiably proud of two wins and a draw against tough opposition.