GRENEWAY S Year Eight basketball team crowned a superb two years of success with a 76-69 play-off final win in another exciting encounter with rivals Priory School. Priory were looking to avenge their loss in last season s final and started brightly as t

GRENEWAY'S Year Eight basketball team crowned a superb two years of success with a 76-69 play-off final win in another exciting encounter with rivals Priory School.

Priory were looking to avenge their loss in last season's final and started brightly as they forced Greneway into making bad defensive errors with Rhys Dainton causing many of the problems in the first quarter.

The second quarter showed the strength of Greneway as they stepped up a gear to turn the match back in their favour.

Priory had no answer to the Greneway pressure and soon found themselves 25 - 4 down.

Greneway continued to apply the pressure in the third quarter and caused numerous turnovers with most being converted superbly.

Fatigue gradually set in, though, as the Greneway players started to miss good chances.

Greneway continued to miss chances in the final period which enabled Priory to gradually close the gap.

Dainton continued to take the match to Greneway but his team mates weren't as clinical.

And with two minutes remaining Greneway began to slow the offences down and used the shot clock - another piece of smart basketball.

Greneway controlled this final phase expertly and greeted the final buzzer with absolute elation as the team had won back-to-back championships.

Coach Terry Graves was delighted with the victory and said; "This team can continue to develop next year as our Meridian Year 9 team in the County competition where they will represent North Herts with distinction. Winning back-to-back championships is a huge success.

Elsewhere at Greneway, the year six and seven rugby team won the Hertfordshire Schools' RFU under-12s finals which were held at St. Albans School.

Greneway started brilliantly and beat Goffs School 5-0 after Joseph Simons scored the points.

Bushey Meads were up next and, although their players were bigger and stronger, Greneway prevailed as tries from Matt Moore, Ed Shannon and Robbie Ponting sealed yet another impressive victory.

After a well-deserved lunch break, Greneway took on another big team - Marlborough - looking to maintain their momentum and remain unbeaten.

However, for the first time in the tournament the forwards found themselves under immense pressure in the scrum.

Gradually they re-asserted their power and this gave the talented Greneway backs the platform needed to score through Ed Shannon.

Marlborough showed their mettle by driving Greneway back and after three minutes of excellent stops, Marlborough eventually went over to level the match. This was the first score Greneway had conceded in five matches but their response was superb as they won the nest scrum before Shannon raced through to win the match 10 - 5.

Cavendish School were the final obstacle between Greneway and the County Championship and both sides went into the match unbeaten.

The forwards once again caused problems for their bigger opponents throughout the match, and with time running out, Greneway won a scrum seven metres from the Cavendish line before Moore went over the line for the crucial try.

The final whistle meant Greneway had become Hertfordshire champions for the first time ever, and coach Mr Graves said: "This is a fantastic team achievement and all the players made a crucial contribution to this success.

"I'm very proud of this team and how they have developed over the season.