Hyndburn girls a touch of class
SCHOOLS SPORT
FIVE districts across East Lancashire joined forces to determine which schools would be joining the largest youth sporting event in Lancashire in an under13s girls’ touch rugby competition.
Five schools became district champions at the event including Shuttleworth College in Burnley, Haslingden High School in Rossendale, Colne Primet Academy in Pendle, The Hyndburn Academy in Hyndburn and St Augustine’s RC High School in Ribble Valley.
Each school will now represent their districts at the SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals against schools from ten other Lancashire districts in a bid to be crowned county champions.
Burnley Rugby Club hosted the event and provided volunteers on the day to organise the series of round robin competitions and keep scores.
The East Lancashire trophy was awarded to Haslingden High School in Rossendale who were triumphant overall.
Helen Tyson, school games organiser for Burnley, who arranged the event, said: “I am thrilled that 130 girls turned up to take part in the East Lancashire girls’ rugby competition. There was lots of talent on the day and for that reason it was a tough competition however, Haslingden High School were the clear overall winners.
“The SPAR Lancashire School Games is a catalyst for encouraging young adults to take part in inclusive, competitive, team sport at all levels and each year we see more and more pupils getting active, which is certainly what we achieved on the day. Thank you to Burnley Rugby Club for hosting the event.
“Good luck to the five teams who secured a place at the county finals, I look forward to cheering you all on at Stanley Park.”
Organised by Active Lancashire, the SPAR Lancashire School Games comprises a series of inclusive sporting events that provides competitive and participative opportunities for all school children across the county. Children across Lancashire will continue to battle it out in a range of sports to gain a place at the SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals which will be held at Blackpool’s Stanley Park on July 3.
More than 3,500 children from schools across Lancashire’s 15 districts are now battling it out for a place at the county finals in 16 sports including gymnastics, football, athletics, mixed cricket and touch rugby. New additions to the SPAR Lancashire School Games lineup have also been introduced for 2018, including quick sticks and quad kids.
The SPAR Lancashire School Games is the biggest school games programme of its kind and is implemented by the county’s school games organisers. This year will mark the twelfth year the county’s school games programme has been sponsored by James Hall & Company Ltd, the SPAR distributors for the north of England. Over £128m of National Lottery and Government funding has been invested into the school games programme.
CRICKET CHRIS OSTICK
LIAM Livingstone hailed his battling Lancashire side after they fell just short of what would have been a record run chase in their Royal London One-Day Cup clash with Yorkshire.
Blistering centuries from Adam Lyth and David Willey saw the White Rose post a massive 379-7 – and the Red Rose were in it all the way until the 49th over when they were bowled out 16 runs short.
Livingstone and Keaton Jennings hit 79 and 69 as Lancashire reached the 25-over mark at 215-2 before falling to 363 all out.
“It was a great game of cricket,” said Livingstone. “We got ourselves into a winning position and couldn’t quite get over the line. So it’s disappointing, but we are pretty happy with the way that we’ve fought right until the end, which is nice to see.
“It’s exciting that we haven’t played to our potential yet and we’ve looked a very good side.
“Looking forward, we have an explosive batting order, and it’s good to see. We have an inexperienced side, so the younger boys will learn from that.”
Lyth recorded a career-best 144 off 132 balls and Willey 131 off 95 in a 235-run stand as Yorkshire posted their highest List A score against county opposition. Willey also finished with 4-59 from