A girls school cricket team is on course for an unprecedented fourth national crown after continuing an outstanding winning streak.

The Ilkley Grammar School under-15s have now won 43 games in a row after booking their place in the regional finals of the ECB Lady Taverners indoor cricket comp-etition.

And having won the national title for the past three years, the girls are keen to make it number four at Lord’s later this year.

First they must play at Headingley on April 8, and teacher and coach Peter Blackwell is optimistic the run can continue, although he is aware all good things must come to an end.

“We started this about three years ago and won 43 games in a row and 13 major tournaments,” he said.

“It has got to end sometime so maybe it’s good to do some publicity for it.

“We’ve played 16 county champions in all the time from all over the country. It’s quite a record.”

This year's squad involves captain Beth Ruddock, Natasha Sunderland, Hannah Spivey, Anna Ross, Charlotte Keane, Maya Booton, Sophie Pullan, Johanna Murray and Bea Bradley.

Mr Blackwell says there is a secret to the girls success, but understandably he is unwilling to divulge it.

“We’ve really nailed a tactic,” he said. “All the schools girls cricket in the country is indoors in cages. You get runs for hitting the side walls and running in between the wickets etc.

“We’ve really grafted away at the tactics in the early days and it was a combination of the girls chipping in and we’ve got them all written down.

“But I don’t leave them around because it someone got hold of them we’d be found out.”

And he feels the winning run is down to the attitude of the girls, which makes them more successful than boys have been.

“I’ve done a lot of boys cricket over the years and personally won 27 county and city trophies with boys before this,” he said.

“But I think it’s a combination of technique, really good tactics and their attitude, which makes the girls good as they are quick learners.

“They’re willing to sacrifice themselves too. That’s the key. Boys are more selfish.

“We play a high-risk running game and the girls are more willing to go for it, whereas boys don’t. It’s that kind of thing, “We play right on the edge and so far, 43 times, it’s come off for us.”

A Caribbean tour is planned for the girls from all three national champion teams in October and Mr Blackwell says nearly all the girls are still playing cricket outside of school, mostly due to a link with Ben Rhydding Cricket Club.