Brilliant Berkhamsted seal overtime win to earn Under 15 Championship

Berkhamsted came through a nailbiting overtime final against Putney High to claim the Under 15A National Schools Championship.

Berko were made to battle back though as after going into a 2-0 lead in the final, Putney looked like they were on course for a comeback victory as they went 2-3 ahead in the closing stages.

However, a late equaliser sent the match into overtime and three tense OT periods followed before Berkhamsted finally broke the deadlock to win the Championship in dramatic fashion.

Berkhamsted were victorious in the U14 competition last year, with the cohort now managing to repeat that success at Under 15 level for this year.

The Hertfordshire school recorded three wins out of four in the pool stages, defeating St Pauls (4-0), Wycombe Abbey (3-2), and Abbots Hill (9-0), with a close defeat against Moreton Hall (2-3) leaving them 2nd in Pool A.

However, they then stormed through the knockout rounds with convincing wins against St Helen & St Katharine in the Last 16 (6-0), Downe House in the quarter final (5-1), and the previously unbeaten St Swithun’s 4-2 in the semi final.

Meanwhile, Putney were five out of five through the pool stages with wins against St Helen & St Katharine, Marlborough College, St George’s Harpenden, Bedford, and Godolphin.

They then came through against Lady Eleanor Holles in the Last 16, Westonbirt in the quarter finals, and Birkenhead in the semi final to set up the meeting with Berkhamsted.

The final was a real back and forth contest with the momentum swinging one way and then the other before the dramatic overtime periods that brought the Championship to a thrilling conclusion that ultimately went in Berkhamsted’s favour.

Other Final Results:
Under 15A Division 1: Wycombe Abbey 3-0 Bedford
Under 19C Division 1: St Swithun’s 3-2 Guildford High (OT)
Under 19C Division 2: St Catherine’s D 3-2 Marlborough College (4OT)