Covid cases have caused disruption to the inaugural School Sport Magazine National Schools U14 Rugby Cup.

But flexibility with the draw and enthusiasm to get games played mean just a couple need to be played before the fourth-round line-up is completed.

Away games can be tough at the best of time but there is one advantage as Croydon’s Trinity School discovered.

A tough game against Sussex’ Hurstpierpoint College ended in a 15-15 draw – but Trinity went through to the fourth round on the away team rule as both side scored three tries each. Next up is a home tie against Dulwich College, who overcame Colfe’s School 30-10.

In the competitive northern section, Trent College set up a tie against either Kirkham Grammar or Merchant Taylor’s Crosby after overcoming Spalding Grammar 35-10.

Prince Henry’s Grammar School earned a home tie against Ellesmere College after defeating the Grammar School at Leeds 25-10.

Down in the south west, Truro School will visit Ivybridge Community College in a mouth-watering tie after the Cornwall side defeated Torquay Boys Grammar School 35-0 and Ivybridge Community College saw off Taunton School 20-5.

Bloxham School look a promising outfit after a second comprehensive victory of the campaign, this time 60-3 against Bishop Wordsworth’s School.

And in the Midlands, Bromsgrove School proved too strong for Princethorpe College, winning 35-10 while Farlingaye High School overwhelmed New Hall School 55-0, Bishop’s Sortford High School overcame Samuel Whitbread Academy 45-25 and Uppingham edged a close encounter with Cambridge’s Perse School 35-30.

It’s all systems go in the School Sport Magazine National U12, U13 and U15 Netball Cups with just a couple of fixtures left to complete the fourth round line-up.

In north Yorkshire in the U15 competition, St Aidan’s High School were crowned queens of Harrogate after defeating their town rivals Harrogate Grammar 40-21 and will now travel to Yarm School, who overcame Dame Allan’s School 34-9.

Another exciting fourth round tie will see Woodhouse Grove host the Grange School after both teams enjoyed on-the-road victories – the Yorkshire side seeing off Goole Academy 54-14 and the Cheshire team edging a terrific game against Scarisbrick Hall School 54-14.

Elsewhere Putney High School proved too strong for Epsom College, winning 35-16 while London’s James Allen Girls School defeated Sevenoaks School 29-17.

In the U12 cup, the last sixteen line-up is close to completion after a host of fascinating ties.

Surbiton High School defeated Epsom College 30-10, Brentwood School pipped Woodlands School 17-13 in an-Essex affair, Warwick’s Kings High School beat Bablake School 17-11 while Taunton edged a low-scoring affair against Wales’ Cwm Rhymni 7-6.

Close encounters are part and parcel of cup competitions – and none more so than in the School Sport Magazine National Schools U14 Rugby Cup.

One of the tightest ties so far saw Whitgift School, one of the favourites for the competition, endure a tough encounter with Surrey neighbours John Fisher School, who just days earlier had proved too strong for Gordon’s School, winning 50-0.

In the end they emerged triumphant by just five points – winning 12-7 - to set up another difficult fourth-round clash with Epsom College, who saw off Howard of Effingham School 45-0.

Portsmouth versus Southampton is a longstanding local derby in a different sport – but two schools from the same neighbouring cities enjoyed an equally epic meeting.

And it was Portsmouth Grammar who claimed bragging rights against their rivals King Edward VI School – but only after a nip-and-tuck third round game which they edged 35-30.

Not all games go to the wire of course and two teams in the northern division enjoyed comfortable passages into the fourth round.

King’s Macclesfield looked strong as they saw off St Ambrose College 60-15 as did QEGS Wakefield, who triumphed 50-0 against Hill House School. Their fourth round clash should be a classic.

They will be joined by the talented Northampton School for Boys, who followed up their major scalp of Warwick School, by beating Haberdashers’ Aske’s School 60-10.

In the capital, London Oratory School defeated St Benedicts School Ealing while Reigate Grammar pipped Wimbledon College 40-30 and Epsom College defeated Howard of Effingham

Finally in two delayed second round matches, Hertfordshire’s Samuel Whitbread School overcame Watford Grammar 40-20 while Oxfordshire’s Bloxham School whitewashed St Edward’s School 50-0.

Recharged schools hit the ground running after the half term break in the School Sport Magazine National Netball Cups.

St Aidan’s High School set up another battle of Harrogate after seeing off neighbours St John Fisher High School 39-6 in the U15 competition.

With no less than four schools from the same town in the cup, next up is a third round clash with Harrogate Grammar School.

Further south, a close U15 encounter between Streatham & Clapham High School and Surbiton High School saw Streatham edge the game by just three points 30-27.

And St Helen & St Katharine School look a team to beat after seeing off Buckinghamshire’s Aylesbury High School 49-9.

The Oxfordshire school made it a double victory when their U12s defeated the same opponents 22-3.

In the U13 cup, Queen Anne’s School defeated Downe House School 16-9 and Putney High School proved too strong for St Thomas’ Clapham, winning 54-3.

St Peter’s School in York have become the first team to reach the fourth round of the inaugural School Sport Magazine National Schools U14 Rugby Cup.

The northern powerhouse proved too strong for their Yorkshire neighbours Harrogate Grammar but were made to work hard for their 30-15 victory.

Joining them will be Buckinghamshire big-hitters Dr Challoner’s Grammar, who overcame Stowe School 30-5.

Outbreaks of Covid have caused delays with some fixtures – and competition organisers are trying to give teams as much flexibility in the early rounds as possible to ensure games are played.

But the virus hasn’t stopped six sides joining the 50 plus club with powerful displays right across the country.

Down in Sussex, Hurstpierpoint College ran in ten tries in their 50-10 victory over Worth School, Norwich School defeated Wymondham College 50-5, Wimbledon College eased past Tiffin School 55-5, Epsom College triumphed 55-0 against St George’s Weybridge, Whitgift beat Caterham School 50-0 and in south Wales Glantaf beat Bro Edern by the same scoreline.

Meanwhile down on the south coast Portsmouth Grammar started their campaign well with a 45-25 victory over Embley School, Ipswich School overcame Gresham’s School 40-24, Kirkham Grammar beat Scarisbrick Hall School 47-21 and in Essex Westcliff High School defeated Woodlands School 45-15.

School’s netball is back on court – and hundreds of teams are battling it out in the returning School Sport Magazine National Netball Cups.

Two sides have become the first to reach the fourth round of the U15 competition.

Oxfordshire’s St Helen & St Katherine School beat Downe House School 28-3 and Buckinghamshire’s Aylesbury High School pipped county neighbours Wycombe High School 17-15.

Elsewhere in the U15 cup, Shropshire’s Wrekin College beat RGS Worcester 28-22 while Cheshire’s Grange form continued their solid early form with a 56-25 win against Wilmslow High School.

In the U13 cup, Sevenoaks School proved too strong for Bennett Memorial School 35-12, Surbiton High School beat Lady Eleanor Holles School 28-16 Ashville College edged Harrogate Grammar 15-13 and, in a high-scoring Hampshire clash, Churchers College overcame St Swithun’s School 39-34.

In the U12 cup, Harrogate’s St Aidan’s High School defeated Ashville College 15-6 while Harrogate Grammar School triumphed 20-6 over Ripon Grammar and Brentwood School overcame Forest School 17-3.

Draws are rare events in rugby matches – but Hill House School don’t mind after progressing in the inaugural School Sport Magazine National Schools U14 Rugby Cup.

Nothing separated the Doncaster side and their opponents Wath Academy at the final whistle after three tries each.

But Hill House went through to the third round on the away team rule and will now host QEGS Wakefield who overcame Rodillian Academy 50-15.

Elsewhere the Midlands saw a game worthy of any final when Northampton School for Boys took on Warwick School, multiple winners of national cups in recent years.

However a fantastic performance from the Northampton state school saw them triumph 25-15 to set up a third round visit to the winners of Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys School and Bishop Stopford School.

Further south, Southampton’s King Edward VI School proved too strong for Dorset’s Glenmoor & Winton Academy, winning 68-7.

Uppingham School triumphed over Welland Park Academy 55-5 while Oscar Hagan notched three tries as Bromsgrove School defeated Malvern College 40-0 and will now visit Princethorpe College, who overcame Bishop Vesey’s Grammar 20-10..

In the south west, Ivybridge Community College started strongly with eleven tries and a 55-0 victory over Queen’s College Taunton.

Physical education (PE) teachers and sports curriculum leads across the UK are being invited to sign up to free online training on October 11 to discover how interactive technology and real-world stories can be used to enhance PE lessons and teach young people vital skills.

Created in partnership with immersive learning platform Lyfta and national children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust, the event will share ready-made lesson plans and approaches to help teachers engage students with key values through sport, such as resilience, inclusivity and teamwork.

During the webinar, teachers will discover top tips for re-engaging all children with PE this new academic year.

With 73% of children returning to school with low levels of physical fitness, and the pandemic having a devastating impact on mental wellbeing, a key aspect of the teacher training will explore the connections between physical activity, healthy lifestyles and emotional wellbeing.

Linked to the national curriculum and UN Sustainable Development Goals, the free session will uncover how stories of young people from across the world can be used by educators to explore a diverse range of topics from PE to relationships and sex education (RSE).

Through interactive video and documentary content, teachers will gain insight into:

• How PE can be connected to RSE lessons to help children understand how physical and emotional health complement and impact one another

• How real experiences of young people playing football around the world, from Brazil to China, can be used to demonstrate how sport helps young people cope with success and failure

• How story-based lessons relating to gender stereotypes in sport, from female weightlifters to male ballet dancers, can spark discussion around inclusivity and empathy

The resources have been developed to convey the benefits of sports for all children, helping to tackle the barriers preventing girls, students from disadvantaged backgrounds and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from engaging with PE.

This follows new research from the Youth Sport Trust which finds just 39% of girls say they enjoy PE lessons compared to 495 of boys, citing reasons such as not being good at exercise or not being competitive enough.

Neil Dawson, head of PE at Wilson Stuart School, said: “Through sparking conversation and being able to navigate the story worlds, our pupils have demonstrated increased appetite to try new activities and sports in their physical development time and PE lessons along with wider wellbeing outcomes such as the importance of hydration, sleep and cleanliness as part of their preparing for adulthood curriculum.”

Vicci Wells, national manager - targeted interventions at the Youth Sport Trust added: “We are really excited to be partnering with Lyfta to offer free training to PE teachers and sports curriculum leads and exploring the role that interactive technology can play in teaching young people key life lessons through sport.

“Our new research shows that a growing proportion of young people agree that they would like to use more technology as part of PE lessons, with 45 per cent agreeing compared with 37 per cent in 2014, and so we are looking forward to supporting more schools to embrace Lyfta’s immersive learning platform.”

For more information and to sign-up for the free Lyfta and Youth Sport Trust event, please visit www.lyfta.com/youth-sport-trust

Prep schools often don’t have the benefit of numbers when they enter national netball competitions.

But that didn’t stop Northamptonshire’s Spratton Hall winning a highly competitive School Sport Magazine National Schools U13 game against a tough Bedford Girls School 18-10.

Emelia Hull was outstanding in defence and shooter Florrie Lewis provided the goals up front as Spratton Hall set up another tough tie against Berkhamsted School.

Elsewhere in the U13 cup, Surrey’s Howard of Effingham School defeated Gordon’s School 49-6, Winchester’s St Swithun’s School edged a great game against Farnborough Hill School 36-30 and Colfe’s School overcame Forest School 28-10.

Wirral Grammar gained revenge for an earlier U12 defeat by beating Grange School 26-17 and Millfield triumphed 31-20 over Taunton School.

In the U12 cup, Putney High School beat Thomas’ Battersea 36-15 and will now face Lady Eleanor Holles School, who edged out Notting Hill High School 16-15 in round three.

Meanwhile in the U15 cup, a solid defensive performance by Bedford Girls School laid the foundation for their 35-16 victory over Southend High School for Girls 35-16.

Bedford only let in four goals in the first 30 minutes while shooter Amelia Mead enjoyed a 79% strike rate from 35 attempts and Molly Lincoln was named player of the match for her tireless work rate in the centre court.

Elsewhere Sevenoaks proved too strong for Bennett Memorial School, winning 49-9, Surbiton High School beat Howard of Effingham School 55-4 and Epsom College overcame Lady Eleanor Holles School 33-19.

Norwich School beat Impington Village College 50-4, Wellington School edged Taunton School 33-30 and Lingfield College needed a golden goal to pip Royal Russell School 19-18.

Young netball players all over the country are welcoming the chance to return to competition after 18 months away.

And teams have been quick to embrace the early stages of the returning School Sport Magazine National Schools U12, U13 and U15 Netball Cups.

Pride of place goes to Cheshire’s Grange School who claimed three victories out of three, beating Wirral Grammar 24-16 (U12), Alderley Edge 27-24 (U13) and Falibroome Academy 43-23 (U15).

Farnborough Hill School have also been quick off the block with an impressive 57-13 win in the U15 competition against Churcher’s College 57-13 while another all-Hampshire clash saw Winchester’s St Swithun’s School defeat Southampton’s King Edward VI School 59-24.

In Suffolk, Ipswich School won an entertaining U15 clash with Woodbridge School 37-30 while Dorset’s Bryanston School overcame John Hanson Community School 34-8, Streatham & Clapham High School beat Croydon High School 37-11 and James Allen’s Girls School edged a tight game against Colfe’s School 17-15.

Coventry’s Bablake School have also started well with two wins out of two – a 49-35 U15 defeat of Trent College and a 14-4 U12 victory against Welland Park Academy.

Elsewhere in the U12 cup, Downe House School overcame their Berkshire neighbours Heathfield School 14-4 while Eltham College beat their London rivals Colfe’s School 17-5.

In the U13 competition, Norwich School defeated Ipswich High School 27-8, Guildford’s St Catherine’s School beat Epsom College 34-22 and previous winners Berkhamsted enjoyed a shut-out in their 30-0 victory over Heath Mount School.