King's School under-13 girls with their trophy

KING’S School under-13 girls have been crowned Independent Prep Schools Association national champions.

After going unbeaten through the regional pool round in Hertfordshire and winning a play-off on penalties, King’s represented the south region as one of 10 schools in the national finals, again in Herts.

King’s began with a creditable 1-1 draw against top seeds and west champions Cheltenham College before a 1-0 win over north champions Wellingborough.

They played out a goalless draw against Taunton, also qualifiers from the west, before a 1-0 win in the final group game against Ardingly sent them through to the semi-finals.

The Canterbury side again needed sudden-death penalty strokes to overcome Norfolk school Gresham’s and book a repeat clash with Cheltenham in the final.

It took a golden goal from King’s three minutes from the end of extra-time to separate the sides and earn the school the title for the first time since 2003.