The tournament is the first of a series of age-group specific schools tournaments organised by Ealing Handball Club for the 2014/15 school year. The Schools championship is part of a three year effort to sustainably establish handball as a top 5 team sport in Ealing and West London secondary schools. The tournament follows a one-off event at Northolt High School last year.

Dormers Wells, Brentside, Northolt and Elthorne Park took part in the U13 tournament hosted and managed by Dormers Wells. Matches were played on adjoining courts, allowing each team to play three 18 minute matches, with a half time break.

To the credit of the PE teachers, the standard of play was very high, and the games were all close, with every team winning at least one match. The outcome of the tournament was in the balance to the very last minute of the last game when hosts Dormers Wells scored the decisive goal against Brentside. The team’s gender mix was left to the schools and, whilst three teams elected for all-boys teams, Elthorne Park fielded a mixed team.

We now look forward to seeing the same four schools, plus Villiers High, battle it out in next week's U15 Ealing Schools Handball Tournament, which will take place at Southall Sports Centre.

A big thank you to Dormers Wells Head of PE Dave Gorvin and the 6th form students who helped run the tournament, as well as Ruilsip Eagles’ Super 8 player Gilbert Lewis who refereed the games with Dave Gorvin. Dormers Wells Head Teacher Ms Walsh and Ealing Council Sports Development Officer Jo Valkes also attended the event.

Results

Dormers Wells-Elthorne Park 8-3
Brentside-Northolt 5-4
Northolt-Dormers Wells 6-4
Elthorne Park-Brentside 8-6
Elthorne Park-Northolt 6-6
Dormers Wells-Brentside 5-4

Ranking
Dormers Wells 7 pts (+4)
Northolt 6 pts (+5)
Elthorne Park 6 pts (+3)
Brentside 5 pts (-2)