Chris Arnone column: Solway Sharks win was perfect way for Blackburn Hawks to return

We were always going to be a bit rusty, unlike Solway, who had been playing pretty regularly during our break, and picking up some wins too.

So we knew it was always going to be a tough.

We came out slowly in the first period, which was probably to be expected, and they went one goal up on a power-play.

But even when we were behind I thought we pretty much dominated, we just lacked that cutting edge.

But once we found it, there was only going to be one winner and five unanswered goals from Luke Brittle, with two, Dan Mackriel, Jordan Bannon and Jared Owen meant we did just that.

We’re now seven points clear of Solway. Yes they have lost one or two players from last season but they’ve still got a lot of quality right throughout their team

And at the end of the day you can only beat what’s put in front you and take each game as it comes.

In recent years we’ve probably looked ahead at games that we think are going to be the big ones and we’ve dropped points in other games because we’ve not concentrated as much.

This year we’ve been pretty strict in the sense that we’re only focusing on the next game as that is the most important one.

That means all our attention is on our league game at home to Sutton Sting on Saturday and then our cup clash at Billingham Stars on Sunday.

It’s the start of a couple double-weekend headers for us and it’s something I prefer than having time off like we have done this month.

Playing back-to-back games and games week after week improves your momentum which, as I keep saying, is key.

It’s going to be non-stop from now until the New Year, it’s going to be tough and it’s probably going to define our season.

If we can keep winning we’ll be looking pretty strong for the league.

But I don’t want to be getting carried away yet. We’re just going to take it one game a time.

It’s worked well for us doing that this year and we’re not going to change now.