Haslingden High School’s netball team returned to league action with a bang after an impressive win over local rivals Thomas Whitham College from Burnley.

The team has not been able to play in the Sixth Form Schools and Colleges League recently but kicked off with a resounding 50-10 comeback victory.

“We have not been able to play in this league before because you need to be able to attend matches on a Wednesday,” said PE teacher Erika Wilson. “However now that most of the players are in enrichment classes for the last period on a Wednesday they can use that time to play netball.

“In order to look right we needed a professional kit and we were fortunate enough to be sponsored by Farrow and Farrow Estate Agents.”

Captain Abbie Suthers, 17, said: “I have been playing netball since I started at the high school aged 11 and I enjoy it because I am competitive. I play wing defence and am able to get round the other players very well.”

They will play 14 matches in the league travelling from Rossendale to as far away as Cheadle Hulme in Manchester and Carr Hill in Warton.

Mrs Wilson said: “The players of the match were Jade Street, for showing the most improvement, and Natasha Brook and Samantha Martin for amazing cooperative play in the circle and fantastic shooting.”