GOAL-DEN girls at a Greenock school showed grit and determination to be crowned Scottish netball champions.

The tenacious team from Notre Dame High saw off competition from 117 rival squads to lift the Scottish Schools Cup at a closely-fought final at Ravenscraig Sports Centre in Motherwell.

Coach Claire Munn, from Clyde Netball Club, has been preparing the girls for success and says she is proud of them.

She said: "They got to the final last year and didn't win so they were totally up for it this year because they had experienced defeat and they didn't really like it.

"It was lovely to see them encouraging each other before they went on to win, which was amazing.

"We had really good support through with us, a lot of parents came along."

The girls emerged victorious by defeating Peebles High School 59–55.

Team captains Alanna Buchan and Samantha Williams, who are both in sixth year, say team-work and perseverance paid off.

Samantha said: "At the final, it was really hard, we had to put a good shift in but we managed to push through."

Alanna added: "It was disappointing to come second last year so to win this year was so good.

"Peebles were a really strong team.

"Everyone in the team communicated really well - if we knew something was going wrong everyone talked to each other to fix it and encouraged one another."

Head teacher Kate Couttie has congratulated the trophy winners.

She said: "I am so proud of what the girls have achieved and the way that they played.

"They are so committed and even when they can be a few points behind, they pulled together and got their heads down.

"They are a fantastic example to all the other pupils.

"We are so grateful to Claire Munn for the time she has given up to train the girls."

Andy Armour, principal teacher of PE at the school, added: "We are very proud of the girls, they work extremely hard along with Claire to get this."