THE Redeemer have been crowned Blackburn with Darwen Year5/6 Girls Football 6-a-side champions after a record turn out of teams in the annual event.

St Bedes RC Sports College hosted the event which included12 schools from across the borough. Schools were split into three groups of four with the top team from each group going through - along with one lucky loser from across all three groups. Group One consisted of St Paul’s Feniscowles, Lower Darwen, Longshaw and Wensley Fold. Group Two was Feniscowles, Shadsworth, St Antony’s and The Redeemer. And finally in Group Three was St Francis, St Cuthbert’s, Audley and St James Lower Darwen.

The standard on display was excellent, and in Group One St Paul’s progressed with maximum points . In Group Two The Redeemer also won all of their games to top the group.

Group Three saw St Cuthbert’s register three victories to progress to the semi-finals. Lower Darwen won two out of three games and had impressive goal difference of +8, which meant they also progressed to the semi-finals as ‘lucky losers’ So the semi-finals were between St Paul’s RC and St Cuthbert’ and The Redeemer and Lower Darwen. The first semi-final was decided by a single goal as St Paul’s RC edged past a spirited St Cuthbert’s team. The other two semi-finalist’s couldn’t be separated in normal time and it took a dramatic extra time winner for The Redeemer to progress to another Borough final.

The losing semi-finalsits played off for third place with Lower Darwen taking home the bronze medals after a 1-0 victory.

The final saw St Paul’s RC take on The Redeemer. Both teams started the final quite edgy but grew as the game went on. It looked like the match would be heading for another penalty shoot-out until two quick fire goals saw The Redeemer win the game 2-0 and retain the trophy. The Redeemer will now go onto the Lancashire Youth Games on June 30.

The SPAR Lancashire School Games is organised by the Lancashire Local Organising Committee (LOC) and sponsored by James Hall & Company Ltd, the SPAR distributors for the North of England.

Around 3,000 primary and secondary pupils from across the county are expected to take part in the events which are part of the national £128m School Games programme, aimed at motivating and inspiring millions of youngsters to take part in competitive school sport.

“It was great to see a record number of schools at this year’s competition.,” said Andrew Mercer School Games Organiser. “I would like to thank St Bede’s for hosting the event and to Callum Newton, Gregg Simms from St Bede’s for refereeing all of the games.

“I wish The Redeemer the best of luck in the Lancashire School Games.

“I’m sure they will do the borough proud.”