FURNESS Schools Under-15s made an encouraging start to the 2016/17 season with back-to-back victories.

The select side, made up of players from schools in Barrow, Dalton and Ulverston, have shown promising form in defeating Wirral Schools and Hartlepool Schools.

Traditionally, the season starts with the annual county tournament – this year played at Caldew School, Carlisle.

Barrow travelled north to take part in the four-way competition with Allerdale, Carlisle and Eden in a round-robin format.

The side was managed by Chetwynde School head of physical education at Martin Swainson and the tournament gave the side the opportunity to try out new formations as well as helping the side mould together ahead of their seasonal fixtures.

Although it ended with defeats to Allerdale and Carlisle, the matches set Furness up well for their encounter with Wirral.

Furness Schools 1 Wirral Schools 0

FURNESS bounced back with an excellent victory over a well-organised Wirral Schools select team.

In a competitive and physical game, a solitary strike from Furness Academy's Brenan Molineux sealed the game.

Furness Schools 8 Hartlepool Schools 2

THE Furness side followed up with success in the opening fixture of the English Schools National District competition.

Hartlepool schools were difficult opposition on paper, but the South Cumbrian boys stepped up their and won comfortably.

Having led 3-1 at the break, Furness conceded within two minutes of the restart, however the remainder of the game was one-way traffic with goals been scored at regular intervals.

Scorers on the day were Will McGladdery (3), Jack Litherland (2), Will McGuire (2) and Ethan Cole.

The next game for Furness will be the second round of the English Schools National District competition against Preston Schools.

It is scheduled to be played on Saturday, November 5, at Chetwynde School. However, if any local clubs have the ability to host the game at their ground they can get in touch with Martin Swainson via email to m.swainson@chetwynde.cumbria.sch.uk

The Furness Schools squad consists of: Tommy Dawson and Jay Barker (Dowdales); Harrison Turner, Will McGuire and Ryan Smith (St Bernard's); Kodi Hammond, Isaac Whitehall and Jack Litherland (Walney); Will McGladdery, Ethan Cole, Chris Davies, George Stubbs and Luke Armstrong (Ulverston Victoria); Callum Sharples and Archie Brownlee (Chetwynde); and Brenan Molineux (Furness Academy).