ST BEDE’S emphasised their dominance of school boy football in Blackburn and Darwen by claiming three out of the five cups on offer at the end of season cup finals.

Cup competitions for Year Seven to Year 11 took place at Lammack and Pleckgate over a three-week period culminating in a week of finals.

In the Year Seven final, St Bede’s edged out St Wilfrid’s 1-0 in a close fought contest with Nico Novello scoring the only goal in an end-to-end final.

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy got over the disappointment of losing in the Lancashire Cup final by beating Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School 3-0 to lift the Year Eight Cup.

The Year Nine final was probably the pick of the finals..

In what was a repeat of the final of the last two years, the third encounter was by far the best of the trilogy.

St Wilfrid’s started on fire and opened up a deserved 2-0 lead and also saw a penalty saved which proved to be crucial.

Goals either side of half time saw St Bede’s draw level - only for St Wilfrid’s to regain the lead with less than 10 minutes to go.

But there was to be another twice when, from a corner. St Bede’s continued to pass the ball around and got an equaliser in the final minute to force extra time.

It was St Bede’s who now had the momentum and they made it 4-3 in extra time thanks to the impressive Kasper Gluc, and hung on to lift the cup.

The year 10 final was also a close match, with extra time also required to separate Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School and Our Lady & St John.

The match ended 2-2 at the end of normal but it was Our Lady’s who just came out on top thanks to a stunning free kick from Sean Ince in extra time to make it 3-2.

St Bede’s took the Year 11 title and made it three cups out a possible fivewith a 2-1 victory over Darwen Academy, thanks to Goals from Matt Melia and Patrick McGraph.

Andrew Mercer, School Games Organiser, praised all the teams involved in the competition.

“I would like to congratulate all of the teams involved in the finals and in particular those who walked away with the cups,” said Mercer.

“I would also like to thank the officials, many of whom were students themselves who did a great job overseeing the games.

“A final thank you goes to Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School and Pleckgate High School who allowed us to use their pitches.”

n Meanwhile, the competitions keep on coming for Blackburn and Darwen Schools The Year Three/Four Mini Tennis take splace later today including teams from Redeemer (x 2), Wensley Fold (x 2), St Cuthbert’s, Lower Darwen, St Mary & Joe’s, Shadsworth, St Paul’s Hoddlesden, and Avondale.

TherEast Lanc’s cycling finals will be held on the same day.

The Year 4/5 cricket finals will be held at Darwen Cricket Club tomorrow.

Schools involved are Audley, Avondale, St James LD, St Thomas’, St Francis, Wensley Fold and St Cuthbert’s, On Thursday it is the turn of the Primary schools Quick Sticks Hockey at Blackburn Northern.

St Barn & Paul’s, St Cuthbert’s, Longshaw, St Silas and St James’ , Lower Darwen will all be sending teams.