Devonport High School for Boys are enjoying a successful year in terms of sporting achievement.

Three of the school’s football teams made it through to the last 16 in English Schools’ FA National Cup and one has made it through to the quarter-finals.

The school has never before had three teams reach round seven of the competition before at the same time.

The U12s were drawn against The Cherwell School in Oxford in the last 16 after beating St Peter’s School, Exeter, 2-1 in extra-time in the previous round. Despite pushing Cherwell hard to the very end, they eventually lost 4-2.

The U16s reached the last 16 with a 2-0 win over The Priory School, Bristol. They drew a home tie with Beechen Cliff School, Bath. This was an incredibly close encounter with the school having plenty of chances to win the game but these were not taken and they ended up on the losing end of a 2-1 scoreline.

The U15s played St Peter’s School from Gloucester after beating Worle School, Weston-super-Mare 2-1 in round six. This was an incredible game of high quality with both sides playing some excellent football. The school looked to have won the game when they took a 3-1 lead with 10 minutes to go but St Peter’s hit back with two late goals from their outstanding Aston Villa Academy player. However in injury-time DHS were awarded a free-kick 30m from goal and forward Charlie Menear rifled the ball into the top corner with what was literally the last kick of the game.

The draw for the quarter-finals was held live on YouTube and the school were awarded a home tie against Hurstmere School from Sidcup, Kent.

Meanwhile, in table tennis the school’s U16 side which comprises three boys from Year 9 and one form Year 10 won the South West Championships at Bristol and qualified for the South of England Championships which were again held in Bristol.

The team did exceptionally well and won their first two matches beating John Hampden Grammar School and Westcliff High School for Boys.

The final game decided who would win and thereby qualify for the national finals to be held later in the year in Wolverhampton. Unfortunately, DHS lost to London Academy but taking second place in the South of England was a tremendous achievement considering that most of the team are younger by two years than their opponents.