THEY came from across the North West but there was a distinct local flavour to the winners at an annual football tournament held by Great Harwood Rovers.

More than 70 teams and 700 young players took part in the Dave Smith Memorial competition which was again held at Lyndon House Playing Fields.

While the bulk of those teams were made up from East Lancashire clubs, Preston, Bolton, Blackpool and Warrington were all represented.

The tournament involved teams from under sevens to under 12s although the two youngest age groups played on a non-competitive basis with every player receiving a memento.

There was also a girls section for U11s and U13s.

And the host club had plenty to cheer about after winning two age groups - and missing out on another after losing in a penalty shoot-out.

But Harwood experienced the highs and lows of the spot kick drama as the the club’s under 13s girls beat Lammack Juniors on penalites while the boys under 12s lost to Clitheroe Wolves the same way.

With the results from the under sevens and under eights not recorded, Mellor Juniors were the first to get their hands on the silverware after beating Huncoat 1-0 in the under nines age group.

The Under 10s final was an all-Huncoat affair and the first of three to go to spot kicks. After the Badgers and United battled out a scoreless final, it was the Badgers who held their nerve to win 3-1.

Hosts Harwood picked up their first trophy of the afternoon in the under 11s section thanks to a narrow 1-0 win against Langho Juniors Red. In the next age group up, Rovers and Clitheroe Wolves fought out a 1-1 draw before Clitheroe won 3-2 on penalties.

In the girls section, Academy Juniors were crowned under 11s winners after a 1-0 win against Blue Star.

And in the girls under 13s final, Rovers tasted the happy side of the shoot-out, beating Lammack Juniors Red 3-2 after the teams were tied at 0-0 after full time.