HOLY FAMILY'S rugby league finalists missed out in victory by a hair's breadth at Cardiff - and are determined to go one better next year.

The girls reached the Year-7 final of the Powergen Schools Rugby competition and flew the local flag with style. They were given an incredible welcome when they paraded round the Millennium Stadium during the half time interval in the Challenge Cup final.

"It was a superb weekend in every way. Although it was disappointing that the girls didn't win, the weekend as a whole was fantastic," said coach Jeremy Crowther.

They were beaten 40-32 by Airedale High School, Castleford, in a thrilling game.

The teams were level 16-16 at the break with Holy Family tries coming from Kelly Wroot, Rebecca McLean (2) and Lucie Shutt.

After the break the Castleford team took a slender lead before Holy Family hit back. They edged into the lead and as fortunes swung again they found themselves one try down with time running out.

The Keighley side looked set to score and level the game, which would have meant they shared the title.

In the second half Rebecca McLean scored her third, Lucie Shutt grabbed her second and Emma Maloney and Noshaba Hasan went over for Holy Family. But Airedale High's star performer, Chelsea Danby, scored her sixth try to secure victory.

In contrast the Castleford side's match-winner, Danby, who has been playing for five years, the Keighley team had only been playing the game for a few weeks but impressed many at the top of schools sport..

Holy Family teacher Lucy Walsh said: "It's been fantastic and a huge occasion. It's the first time the school has ever reached a sporting national final and it's our first year of having a rugby league team."

Jeremy Crowther added: "The finals at Cariff Athletics Stadium were superbly organised with each team announced as they came out of the tunnel onto the pitch to a fanfare of music.

"I was incredibly nervous so goodness knows what the girls were like, but they performed really well.

"The atmosphere was very special and the team is determine to return next year. They can also lead the way for other teams in the future," he said.