A GIRLS cricketing team have beaten the odds to become Yorkshire Champions.

Richmond School faced favourites Ilkley Grammar School – who have been national champions three times in the last five years – in their first game and lost by just four runs.

However after the early defeat they took resounding victories over teams from Goole and Sheffield by 87 and 62 runs respectively.

This allowed them to qualify for the semi final against Holmfirth High School and took the lead by 28 runs.

The final was against Aston Academy from Sheffield and again Richmond took their game to new levels to post 118, and then restricting Aston to 73 – making them Yorkshire champions by 45 runs.

The squad consisted of Mairi Teasdale, Rosie Brannigan, Georgi Walker, Lucy Hartley, Abi Blenkiron, Liberty Noke, Meg Walker, India Wilson and Amy Jobling.

The team will now go on to represent Yorkshire at Headingley in April in the north finals against teams from Durham, Lancashire, Cheshire, Northumberland and Cumbria.

Headteacher Ian Robertson said: “We are very proud of the girls.

“Although this is an U15 tournament, the team includes girls from across the school years.

“Cricket is very strong within school and all of our teams have had success within the last 12 months.

“The girls also play junior cricket for Richmondshire Cricket Club and the school and club are now developing strong links for the benefit of all youngsters within our community.”