The Carnegie Champion Schools has reached the finals stages in the Midlands, with another year of growth seen in the competition.

In Year 7, Bishop Ullathorne of Coventry edged Frederick Gent School of Derbyshire in a 16-12 nailbiting contest that was settled by an extra time try by Karen Kinsey, giving her a personal haul of 7 tries from the event.

The Year 7 competition began with County Festivals in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Coventry, Wolverhampton and Telford, with the festival champions contesting the Regional Festival.

At Year 8, President Bishop Ullathorne again were successful, this time defeating Morton from Wolverhampton in a 16-4 encounter.

Morton were making the debut in the competition after the deployment of a Community Rugby League Coach in the city, which has ignited a number of entries into both the boys and girls competitions.

The Year 9 champions were another Coventry School, President Kennedy, who defeated Frederick Gent School 36-16 in a physical Grand Final, which saw both sides with impressive size squads.

The Year 10 Champions, Bishop Ullathorne were crowned as Regional Champions at the Coventry event.

All champion teams now progress to the National Finals event to compete for a place at the Finals Day in London as part of the Carnegie Challenge Cup weekend.