Bancroft’s girls Under-16 hockey team put in some classy performances to finish runners up in the Essex Tournament last week.

With a draw and five wins to their credit, the girls ended on level points with Coopers’ Coburn but goal difference favoured the Upminster School.

Bancroft’s played Coopers in their opening game and it turned out to be their toughest with neither side able to break the deadlock and the game finished 0-0.

Convincing wins then followed against Chigwell (6-0), Brentwood (4-0) and New Hall (3-0) before the girls earned a close-fought 2-1 victory over Felstead.

Coach Danni Haynes said: “This is one of the strongest school teams I have seen; several of the girls are making their way up the England Hockey ladder.

“There were some superb individual performances and I would say Monika Johal was the player of the tournament.

“However, all the Bancroft’s girls played well, really supporting each other as a team and digging in when necessary.”

Both Bancroft’s and Coopers Coburn will now go through to represent Essex in the East Regional round of this national competition to be held on 20 November in East Holkham.