Loreto Grammar School’s netballers have started the season in superb form by winning the Manchester and District Schools’ Netball Championships.

The girls from the top Catholic grammar school in Altrincham now go forward to the Greater Manchester event and are aiming for the Northern title before going up to the national championships to emulate a succession of previous Loreto teams.

Loreto won in convincing style beating Cheadle Hulme 9-2, Manchester High School for Girls 14-4 and Stockport Grammar 12-6 before playing out a much tougher draw with local rivals and fellow catholic school St Bede’s 5-5.

The team are driven forward by North of England star, captain and centre midfield play maker Megan Burns but are a strong team unit with Olivia Pennington, Anna Chadwick, Lucy Pickersgill, Kirsten McNally, Mairead Power and Gabrielle Kelly.

Megan Burns said: “Netball relies on team work and developing an almost telepathic understanding and that’s what we want to achieve this season.”