ST CHRISTOPHER’S have been crowned East Lancs year seven rugby league champions despite losing their final game of the competition.

After two qualifying rounds, the Accrington school were joined by Ribblesdale High School, St Augustine’s and Hollins High for the finals held at Higham’s Playing Fields.

In the opening game, Ribb-lesdale beat St Augustine’s four tries to two with St Christ-opher’s beating Accrington rivals Hollins by the same scoreline.

The second round of matches threw the competition wide open with St Christopher’s hanging on for a 3-2 win against Ribblesdale – surviving a late fight back by the Clitheroe school – while St Augustine’s edges past Hollins, again by the same scoreline.

Hollins and Ribblesdale then fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw meaning the last match of the tournament, the battle of the Saints, Christopher and Augustine, was the decider.

The Billington school needed to win by two tries to take the title and the match was tied at two tries each with time running out. But despite scoring with the last play of the day to seal a 3-2 win, St Augustine’s missed out on points difference meaning St Christopher’s were crowned year seven East Lancashire Rugby League champions.