PARK HIGH maintained their unbeaten record in an entertaining and hard fought victory against Fearns High.

With no league system in operation in Pendle, Park have been playing schools from around the borough in friendly fixtures.

And their results have been very impressive from the year eight team which is regarded as one of the strongest the school has produced for some time. But they put their unbeaten record on the line against a Fearns side fresh from their Rossendale Schools' Netball League victory against All Saints.

So there was a more competitive edge to their match against Fearns from Stacksteads who have won one and lost one of their league matches so far this season.

And, despite the final score, it was a close match throughout.

The match was played over three, eight minutes periods instead of the usual four quarters.

And right up until the final period there was no separating the sides.

While Park always had the upper hand, they could never pull away and, by the end of the first period, they were leading 4-2. The Colne school rested a few of their starting line up for the second period and, despite a spirited fight back by Fearns, Park still held a point advantage going into the final stage of the match, leading 8-7.

Fearns' ability to stay with Park was largely due to the shooting skills of goal shooter Melissa Westerman and goal attack Laura Aspin who ended up with the player of the match award.

However with Park bringing back their stronger players for the final period and the Stacksteads school's players tiring, the home side took advantage. Fearns could only scoring once as Park rattled in another five goals - with the scoring shared out between goal shooter Clair Russell, goal attack Abigail Kirkbride and replacement goal shooter Hayley Baines.

Park will now rank among the favourites to lift the Pendle Schools year eight championships which will take place on Monday, March 27.

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