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Heartbreak as title slips away

26/ 5/2005

ST MATTHEW'S (Moston) basketball players were denied national glory in a schools' final.

They went down by three points overall after a second leg dogged by controversy.

Saints took a 20-point advantage to London after beating their opponents from Rokerby High School 72-52 in the home fixture.

The under 14s were in their second final in three years and looking to add the national title to their Manchester Schools and Manchester Catholic Schools' titles gained earlier in the season.

But Rokerby proved the stronger on their home court and a 64-41 scoreline saw them take the trophy on aggregate.

Saints' coach, assistant head teacher John Rogers said: "We started the game late on the promise of the second referee turning up.

"The officiating, timekeeping and scoring was poor, because pupils were doing it. They didn't seem to know all the rules.

"It was disappointing, but we had a great day out in London beforehand.

"We'll be back to try and go one better next year."