THREE girls from Chester have been selected for the England rounders team after city schools sent players to the national trials for the first time.

Upton High School’s Tina Davis, Blacon High’s Emma Hunter and Hayley Rodgers of Tarporley High were all selected for the Year 11 England team at Banbury in Oxfordshire.

Catholic High School PE teachers Hayley Westhead and Karen Burke took pupils from years 10 and 11 to train including Katie Cartmel (Catholic High), Paige Weaver (Blacon), Becky Billington (Upton), Megan Emphriam (Tarporley) and Becky Okell (Queen’s) from Year 11 and Melissa Sweeney (Christleton), Maria Maletta (Catholic High), Kara Jameson (Queen’s Park High) and Alicia Logan (Queen’s).

The Catholic High teachers initially held trials for a Chester rounders team in April. Every school in Chester sent their four best players in Year 7, 8, 9 and 10.

A squad of 12 girls were selected for each age group, and took part in a gifted and talented programme held at the Catholic High.

Known as the Chester Star Centre for Rounders, the programme was not expected to create international players instantly, but the England Rounders Association invited Hayley and Karen to bring a handful of players to try out.