Shrewsbury rounders starlets on a high

The Town Walls-based school came out on top against five opposition schools in the county, as the six sides were split into two pools with the winners contesting a final.

Oswestry School, Prestfelde School, Packwood Haugh School, The Priory School and Wrekin College all met for a fierce day's competition.

It proves that the newest generation of secondary school rounders had plenty to offer, writes Lewis Cox.

Winners Shrewsbury, led by head of sport Sian Fenner, triumphed against Prestfelde and Oswestry in their pool clashes.

They had too much for Packwood in the final, who had came out on top in the opposing group.

Fenner, who has been with the school for 18 years but is spending her first year as head of sport, was delighted that recent training sessions and specific target areas paid off.

She said: "The girls have been working especially hard in training since Easter. Particularly on their batting displays and their tactical skills – both of which paid off.

"They were a very good team and very, very impressive for a Year Seven side. The slickness of their game tactics was spot on.

"It's their first season as a rounders team together and they've all come from different primary schools."

Shrewsbury's winning squad was made up of Annabelle Cox, Ella Hurford, Olivia Brown, Millie Mangham, Katie Gillingham, Lucy Morrison, Anastasia Roach, Karina Skierska, Lottie Edwards, Lottie Meyer and Natasha Dalziel.

Shrewsbury High boast four teams at Year Seven age and Fenner believes that bodes well for future success.

She added: "Before this tournament they'd only really had friendly experience against Thomas Telford and Meole Brace.

"We're gearing up for the Shropshire School Games in June now, where we'll look to qualify and represent Shrewsbury against the likes of Telford and Wrekin and the rest of the county.

"It's really impressive that we have so many rounders teams and girls playing the sport."