THREE youngsters from Cumnock's Robert Burns Academy have done the area proud on the national sporting stage.

Talented trio Carmel McHattie, Grace Carson and Sophie Allen were all selected throughout the year to represent Ayrshire's under 18 school select side.

It has been an outstanding season for the select team, who rounded off their season at the end of last month.

The team put in some outstanding showings, with the Cumnock school girls at the heart of it as they made their way to the final of the national trophy.

The competition in competed amongst all of the regional school teams from across Scotland and only the best can make it to the final stages of the tournament.

Ayrshire began in the group stage and their electric attack helped to provide two wins, a 7-4 victory over Glasgow and an 8-2 win over Paisley .

The results meant the team topped the group stage and earned a home quarter-final as the tournament entered the knockout stage.

A 3-0 win over Aberdeenshire followed before the girls played their way through their tightest match to date with a 4-3 win against West Lothian in the final four.

The final was played at Stenhousemuir's Ochilview Park on March 28, and unfortunately it was not to be as the RBA girls and their teammates lost 3-0 to an impressive Dundee side.

But it was an outstanding achievement for the team to reach this stage, with all of the girls keeping their heads held high.

An Ayrshire Schools FA spokesperson said: "So proud of these players and coaches.

"They may have lost out 3-0 to Dundee in the final but they have done themselves, their parents and carers and schools proud.

"It was an amazing achievement to reach a national final. Well done to all involved."