NORMAL service was resumed for Blackburn Hawks, who produced a professional away performance to beat Nottingham Lions 3-0.

After their 11-game unbeaten run came to an end with a disappointing 4-3 defeat at home to Telford Titans last weekend, Hawks were eager to get their title challenge back on track.

The victory keeps the town team one point above the Titans and now just one point behind second-place Whitley Warriors.

After a goalless first period, an under-strength Hawks side took the lead through Rick Hughes’ penalty shot.

Chris Arnone doubled the visitors’ lead, before Jared Owen secured the points in the final third.

Team manager Graham Lomax said: “Nottingham is always a tough place to go and with them fighting for points at the opposite end of the table, it made for a very scrappy game.

“Overall, I was happy with the performance. We scored three good goals and kept a shut-out, so we’ve ticked all the right boxes.

“Considering we were missing key personnel and after the disappointment of last week, I was pleased with the performance.

“It was a faultless away performance of absolute quality and our fifth straight win on the road, which bodes well for next week’s double header away to Coventry and Nottingham.”