BURNLEY and Pendle Rugby League Club produced a splendid performance in a Spring Nines tournament at St Helens in preparatio for the season ahead.

The Black and Reds begin their campaign against Salford City Roosters B at home this Saturday.

The competition gave them an early look at their opponents for this summer’s league.

They were drawn in the same group as Salford City Rosters B, Langworthy Reds, Littlebororough ARLFC and Mancunians RL.

And with Burnley and Pendle scoring three wins, only a narrow four point defeat by Mancunians RL prevented them from finishing as group winners.

Fielding a mixed squad, including Sam Walker, Will Yip, Robert Metcalf and Cam Vaja, making his debut, they showed that East Lancashire has plenty of emerging talent.

Add that to the inclusion of Will Holden, who represented Scotland at last year’s Rugby League Commonwealth Games Nines, Burnley and Pendle had entered the tournament with high hopes.

Indeed, a semi-final tie against Haresfinch was the least they deserved, and only a late surge prevented Burnley and Pendle from reaching the final.

Ben Healy and Sam Walker were the danger men and when Will Yip’s try put them ahead, followed by another score from Ben Healy, they looked set for a shock win.

However, the home team hit back with two tries and with the Burnley and Pendle defence tiring, Haresfinch wrapped it up 20-12, also beating Mancunians in the final.