Going into the championships as last year's runners-up, the Hornets gained revenge on their bitter rivals, 2010 winners the Melbourne Tigers, with a tight 37-31 victory.

This year the Hornets led the final from the opening whistle and showed why they're undefeated in all competitions this season with a composed defensive display.

Coach Ari Ripoll praised his young team as the best he's ever come across.

"There's nothing this team won't do for each other to get themselves over the line," Ripoll said. "One of the spectators put it to me that we've been able to turn a team of champions into a champion team."

The Hornets qualified for the Australian Championships having won the State Junior Championships and the NSW Championship.

Team captain Jayden Prakash, who was a junior member of last year's grand final squad, said it was a great feeling to go one step further and win the championship.

"We fought hard all season and have shown we're the best under 14s team in Australia," Jayden said.

The win has special significance for the group as it's the last time they'll be able to represent the Hornets at national team level.

From the under 15s onwards the team will have to qualify individually for the NSW squad.

"We've achieved all we can at junior level," Jayden said. "I guess from now on we're playing more for individual honours. It's a great feeling to know though that we've won the championship in our last opportunity to represent the Hornets."

¦The Hills Hornets girls under 14s squad finished the Sydney Junior Championship season as runners-up.