PENRYN College’s Under 16s netball side finished joint sixth in their historic national tournament debut.

The girls progressed to the last stage of the competition in Liverpool after sweeping aside their opponents in the county and regional rounds earlier this year to come up against the best school teams in the country.

It was the first time any side from the school had reached this stage and nerves appeared to get the better of Penryn at the start.

They lost their first two games against Wirral Grammar and Beaconsfield High before finding their feet with a win over Bradford Grammar.

In the next match, they gained a lead on Tonbridge Grammar before the eventual semi-finalists pushed back ahead of them.

Penryn were able to beat Yarm School, Greenswood Academy and Loughborough High but lost narrowly to Higham Lane in their final four games to secure a joint sixth finish overall.

Kate Blackburn, one of the team’s coaches, said the girls did themselves proud.

“I think it was a tough start in a new environment and maybe the nerves got the better of them to start with,” she said.

“They ended up playing some fantastic netball again though and we’re so pleased for them and how well they’ve done.”