A BOYS hockey team has narrowly missed out on a place in the semi-finals of a national competition.

The under-14s team from Red House School, in Norton, met Dean Close School, from Cheltenham, in a quarter-final of the Hockey Association Youth Cup at Warwick University.

Despite taking an early lead with a goal by Alexander Armstrong, followed by another from Matthew Umpleby and a string of saves by Joseph Winterschalden tiredness began to set in and the team eventually went down by 3-2.

Red House School headteacher Chris Allen said: "Nevertheless, it was still an impressive display at such a high level."