Stanley take tag title

The students from the Wordsworth Avenue school battled it out against five other schools from across Blackpool to bag the top spot, and will now go on to represent the district at the SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals at Stanley Park.

They will compete against teams from 14 other Lancashire districts to be named county champions in tag rugby.

Young leaders from Blackpool Sixth Form College took the players through a warm- up and skills session to kick-start the event, with Stanley Primary storming to success in a thrilling final against Anchorsholme Academy, winning the match 7-4 and securing a coveted place at the county finals.

Now in its 10th year, the SPAR Lancashire School Games comprises two main events designed to give all children the opportunity to participate in competitive sport.

The Disability Swimming Gala took place a fortnight ago at Lancaster’s Salt Ayre Sports Centre, while the county finals event will be held at Stanley Park in Blackpool on July 5.

Schools across Lancashire are battling it out for places at the SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals in sports including rounders, tennis, orienteering, handball, gymnastics, athletics and netball, as well as two new sports for 2016 – triathlon and tri-golf.

Over 2,400 youngsters are expected to take part in the event this summer. Organised by Lancashire Sport Partnership, the event is implemented by the county’s school games organisers and sponsored by James Hall & Company Ltd, the SPAR distributors for the North of England. It is part of the national £128m school games programme.

Dave Rohman, who is the school games organiser for Blackpool and arranged the tag event, said: “The countdown to the SPAR Lancashire School Games has well and truly started and we are all looking forward to an exciting few months ahead as we see Team Blackpool starting to take shape.

“Stanley Primary School has claimed the prized tangerine shirts and their place is firmly booked for the finals.

“All the players who took part should be extremely proud of themselves as they put on a great sporting show.”