Harleston Magpies' girls and boys' U18 teams did the club proud in the National Finals.The girls finished fourth in the National Finals behind the winners Belper, Leicester and Chelmsford.

Harleston Magpies' girls and boys' U18 teams did the club proud in the National Finals.

The girls finished fourth in the National Finals behind the winners Belper, Leicester and Chelmsford.

Magpies made a poor start on the Saturday, losing 2-0 to Chelmsford by conceding two soft goals in the first half and despite a really strong second-half performance the damage was done.

On Sunday morning Magpies played Belper, the hot favourites, who boasted no less than eight junior internationals.

Magpies were unrecognisable from the team that played on Saturday as they turned round at half time having defended well and created plenty of problems for Belper.

Belper scored early in the second half but it seemed to make Magpies even more determined and they were very unlucky not to be awarded a penalty stroke.

In the final minute of the game Magpies equalised from a penalty corner when a shot from Artemis Clark was deflected by a defender into the goal, but it was nothing less than Magpies deserved. When you consider that Belper beat Leicester and Chelmsford 5-0 and 7-0 it shows how well Magpies played.

In the final game against Leicester Magpies had plenty of chances to take the lead but Leicester survived and then took the lead themselves.

As in the Belper game Magpies turned up the tempo and equalised with two minutes to go with a classy goal from Lizzie Clymer.

Magpies' boys' U18 squad travelled down to Canterbury for the finals weekend of the national cup competition for the first time in the club's history, and did themselves proud.

The first game saw the team face Bowden and they drew 0-0. Despite the pressure the defensive unit held firm denying Bowden at every opportunity. Harleston fought back in the second half and started to create more chances of their own.

Harleston started to force more penalty corners but neither team could take advantage and the game ended 0-0.

The second game saw a tired Harleston side face a very strong Beeston team and they lost 2-1. Despite withstanding a lot of pressure within the first 20 minutes the team's defence was broken from a well-taken goal five minutes before the break. The team started the second half well but Beeston could have extended the lead but for two excellent stops from William Johnson but Beeston netted from a well-worked short corner.

Carl Sitch scored with a reverse stick from an acute angle. With seconds on the clock Will Harrison threw an aerial over the Beeston back line which Chris Barber latched onto with just the keeper to beat.

Harleston drew 3-3 with reigning champions Reading. Harleston went two goals down but fought back well and Chris Barber snatched a goal with a well-worked short corner. Ben Gowing pulled the team level with a well-taken goal. Despite Will Harrison being controversially sent off, Harleston equalised through Jamie Legg's reverse-stick shot after Reading had netted another.