ST MICHAEL’s School’s annual celebration of sport has involved around 500 pupils from the UK and the Channel Islands this week, with some excellent competition being recorded in a range of sports.

The Cook Cup football honours went to Westbourne House, who beat the other group winners, Durlston Court, 1-0 in the final of the A competition at Grainville on Wednesday. A headed goal broke the deadlock and under-pressure Westbourne held out to top a competition that featured several combined sides.

Durlston went one better in the B competition final, beating St Michael’s Kent 2-0 in a passionate and physical encounter that brought about the congratulations of match referee Nick Procter, the director of sport at Kingswood House.

Graham Malcolm, head of the visiting Priory Prep, also commended the 180 boys competing over the afternoon for their spirit, attitude and effort.

The festival got into full swing yesterday, with both indoor hockey competitions being held at Fort Regent, the girls’ Allen Plate being won by Prior Park and, in a replay of the football final, Westbourne House A beating Durlston Court A 1-0 in the boys’ competition.

Eight teams contested the high-standard girls’ hockey, with the semi-finals being fast-moving affairs, Durlston just squeezing through to the final where they went down by the only goal to Prior Park in the best game of the morning.

St Michael’s Jersey and Victoria College Prep were up against 12 UK sides in the boys’ event, VCP going out on penalty flicks against Durlston A in the quarter-finals – a replay of last year’s final. Westbourne B beat Durlston B 2-0, only to exit to Durlston A after a semi-final penalty marathon – 16 penalty flicks were taken – following a 1-1 draw.

St Michael’s Jersey squeezed past Belmont A on penalty flicks to meet Westbourne A in the semi-final, with the visitors triumphant 1-0 on penalty flicks following a 0-0 scoreline.

Both teams in the final enjoyed periods of control in an electric encounter full of skilful play but no goals. Once again penalty flicks were required, with Westbourne House A beating Durlston A 1-0 to lift the Indoor Hockey Trophy.

St Michael’s Jersey won the

play-off for third play, beating Westbourne B 2-1, once again after penalty flicks.

Earlier in the week preliminary netball fixtures were held, with the host side beating their namesakes from Kent 15-5 with a display of high-quality shooting in the second half. Elsewhere, Belmont beat Grainville in a closely-fought affair.

Football also started early, with De La Salle putting on a superb show to beat St Michael’s Kent 3-0, both sides drawing praise from Graham Arkley, director of sport at the Kent school.

On the hockey pitch, Durlston Court went down 2-0 to Victoria College, who went on to beat Skippers Hill despite being somewhat under the cosh from the visitors in the second half.