Framlingham College’s under-14 boys’ hockey team are celebrating after being crowned National Schools champions, in Cannock, after defeating Repton School, 1-0, in the final.

Jack Hobbs scored the winner in a tense affair, that saw Jolyon Summers play an outstanding role in midfield, keeping the opposition’s threat to a minimum.

Though it was goals that ultimately decided the outcome, it was Framlingham’s excellent defensive record in the competition that stood out, conceding just three goals in a campaign lasting 13 games, which included their East Region games.

Having progressed from the East region as champions, in February, where they scored 29 goals and conceded none in six games, they began the national event in nervy fashion.

Their first Group A game was against the champions from the West, Dean Close School and Framlingham headed in 1-0 down at half-time.

The second half saw them pile on the pressure, creating plenty of goalscoring opportunities, and eventually Summers took his chance to take the game to 1-1.

The drama was not over as a goal-bound shot, right on the final whistle, hit a Suffolk player.

With their second match being a walkover against Trent College, it was left to the final group game against South champions Whitgift School in a winner-takes-all contest to decide who would progress to the final.

Framlingham put the pre-tournament favourites under intense pressure and indomitable captain Archie Winter scored two goals in quick succession before half-time.

Whitgift came out strongly in the second half, but great tackling from Will Donsworth and two superb saves from Josh Butler allowed Framlingham to progress.

The final saw Framlingham dominate possession after their early goal and they created several chances including a disallowed effort.

Summers, who has been called up to an England Under 15 training camp next weekend, kept the pressure on Repton throughout the game, only allowing them some brief periods of respite on the counter attack.

Framlingham College Director of Sport, Simon Sinclair said, “This is a remarkable achievement for this group of boys.

“They have shown a huge commitment and effort and are a talented bunch.

“We are extremely proud of all of them and grateful to Jon Slay (Under 14 coach) and Jamie Kingstone (Head of Hockey) for putting in so much preparation time to make this achievable.”