Blackburn 16 Eccles 11

BLACKBURN secured their first win of the season with a hard fought victory at Ramsgreave Drive.

Both teams have struggled so far in North One West so it was always likely to be a close and edgy affair and it proved the case with the result in question right to the final whistle.

But in the end promoted Blackburn prevailed as they outscored their opponents by 2 tries to 1.

It was a cagey first half with both teams exchanging penalties to go in level at the break.

Eccles started well and kept control of the ball and moved deep into the Burn half and they were rewarded with an early penalty kick.

Zac Child managed to even up the score on seven minutes from a penalty 25 metres out. Eccles continued to keep control of the ball and put pressure on Blackburn but the home team’s defence held strong and Eccles had to console themselves with another penalty kick on 17 minutes.

However, Burn hit back again with another Child penalty on 26 minutes.

Eccles had a further penalty kick early in the second half, but again it was missed. And they were made to pay as Dino Radice’s side scored their first try on 50 minutes.

Harry Pilkington broke out from the back of a scrum, fed Cameron Robinson, his good run saw Burn stopped just short of the try line.

Eccles resisted several drives for the line, however finally Ali Reay went low and hard to score in the corner.

Child was unable to add the extra points but Blackburn scored a scored a second decisive try on 58 minutes..

A blind side move from the base of a scrum was cut out by Eccles but the ball was then spread wide, a long pass from Child found Matt Hughes, he tried to go around the outside.

He was stopped by a high tackle, however the referee played advantage as Hughes had managed to offload to Robinson who showed good strength to go on and touchdown.

The conversion was missed. After this Eccles came back at Burn and were on top for most of the remainder of the game, their cause being helped when Tony Thoma was sent to the sin bin on 60 minutes.

While Burn managed to resist the initial pressure from Eccles, space began to be created and when they spread the ball wide on 65 minutes the vistors found a gap to go through and score, the conversion was missed and it was 16-11 to Blackburn.

This is how the score remained despite heavy pressure from the visitors who thought they had scored in the corner in the dying minutes, but the referee didn’t agree and Burn just managed to hold on for the victory.

It was a vital victory for Burn, who will hope it kick starts their season and they will hope to continue to improve next week as they face a tough away game at Altrincham Kersal.