IT’S ‘high fives’ all round for St Gabriel’s Primary School after they were crowned Blackburn and Darwen netball champions following a dramatic golden goal shoot-out.

The super Saints sealed their ‘next goal the winner’ victory over St Barnabas’ from Darwen to win the High 5s tournament and book a place in the Lancashire School Games next month.

The nailbiting final finished 2-2 after normal time and, after neither side could make the breakthrough during the extra period, the match was decided by a golden goal - and it was the Blackburn school who hit the target.

St Gabriel’s certainly did it the hard way after finishing runner-up in their group then winning their semi final against Longshaw also with a golden goal.

They will now represent the borough against teams from across the county at the School Games that will be held at Stanley Park, Blackpool on Tuesday, July 3.

The High 5s format of netball is hugely popular and a total of 26 schools from across Blackburn and Darwen took part - with 10 teams qualifying for the final from two heats.

The 10 teams that reached the final were Lower Darwen, St Pauls Hoddlesden, Holy Souls, Longshaw, Feniscowles, Turton and Edgworth, QEGS, St Paul’s RC, St Gabriel’s and St Barnabas’ Darwen.

The 10 teams were split into two groups and played a round robin format with the top two from each group progressing to the semi-finals.

High 5 can be for mixed or single-sex teams with a maximum of two boys on court at any one time.

One of the key aspects of High 5s is that players rotate around the court so they get to experience every position and makes them more adaptable players as they get older.

Group A consisted of Lower Darwen, St Paul’s Hoddlesden, Longshaw, Feniscowles and Turton and Edgworth. Longshaw won all of their four games to top the group and Turton and Edgworth also progressed to the semi-finals after two wins and a draw.

Group B included St Paul’s Feniscowles, QEGS, St Gabriel’s, Holy Souls and St Barnabas. St Barnabas topped the group with St Gabriel’s also making it to the semi-finals after finishing second.

In the first semi final, St Barnabas overcame Turton and Edgworth after a strong performance in the second half having been trailing at half time.

Longshaw and St Gabriel’s couldn’t be separated in normal time so the match went to extra time and with the scores level it was St Gabriel’s who held their nerve to sink the all-important golden goal

In the third/fourth place play-off, Longshaw beat Turton and Edgworth 4-2 to win the bronze medal.

The final was another nailbiting affair that resulted in another golden goal shootout for St Gabriels. And after both teams missed numerous chances to win, it was St Gabriel’s who finally clinched the title.

Andrew Mercer, School Games Organiser, said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to the Young Leaders and staff from St Bede’s for their support in running and officiating this competition over three weeks.

“I wish St Gabriel’s the best of luck in Blackpool and I’m sure they will do themselves, their school and the borough proud.”