IT WAS High Fives all round for the winning Westholme team who successful defended their netball title.

Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School hosted the final of the Blackburn and Darwen Primary High 5s – the culmination of three qualifying rounds and coaching sessions held by West Pennine Netball Club.

An impressive total of 26 primary schools from across the borough took part in the competition with the top eight progressing to the final.

Schools were split into two groups and played off to determine who progressed in to the semi-finals. Group one included Lower Darwen, Westholme, St Cuthbert’s and Avondale. Favourites Westholme won all of their games to progress to the semi-finals as group winners with Avondale finishing as runners-up.

In group two, Turton and Edgworth, St Peter’s RC, The Redeemer and St James’ Lower Darwen all battled it out for a place in the knockout stages.

And it was St Peter’s and Turton who progressed.

The first semi final was a repeat of last year’s final with Westholme taking on Turton with Westholme running out 8-1 winners.

The second semi final was a much closer affair with Avondale beating St Peter’s 1-0.

In the final, it was Westholme who were crowned Blackburn with Darwen High 5s champions with another convincing performance. In the 3rd/4th place play-off, extra time was required to separate St Peters and Turton with St Peter’s eventually finishing in 3rd place by a score of 2-1 Westholme will now progress to the Spar Lancashire School Games county finals on the July 2.

Blackburn and Darwen School Games Organiser, Andrew Mercer thanked QEGS teacher Angela Bamber who also coaches at West Pennine, Young Volunteers from St Wilfrids, QEGS, Westholme and St Bede’s and Leigh Edgington from QEGS also organised all of the fixtures.

  • West Pennine Netball Club run sessions for girls aged 7-11 at St Bede’s on Saturday mornings between 10am and 11.30am, for more details please contact Angela Bamber on 07850 475683.