BLACKBURN Hawks’ coach Jared Owen has slammed Sunday’s display against Solway Sharks as “absolutely awful” – but insists they can bounce back stronger from their 7-0 home humiliation.

Hawks’ unbeaten start to the National League North Division One campaign was ended in emphatic style as the highly-fancied Sharks showed why they have been tipped by many themselves.

The visitors travelled to the Blackburn Arena on the back of a drubbing to fellow title favourites Billingham, but Owen was not about to hide behind any excuses.

He said: “I guess we did feel the backlash of their defeat to Billingham, but that is no excuse for the way we played from start to finish. It was absolutely awful.

“Credit to Solway they played some good stuff but, while they were at the top of their game, we were at the bottom of our game and got exactly what we deserved.

“We were simply not at the races. The players lacked any cohesion, desire and worth ethic and that performance has opened my eyes.

” Hawks travel to Trafford on Saturday looking to get their title bid back on track, with Owen prepared to give his squad a chance to redeem themselves. “We are a new side,” he said.

“Obviously none of us are happy with what has happened but the guys listened to us after the game, and a few of the senior players had a say, and we will look to react in the right way.

“The players will get a chance to put this right. Obviously if there are repeats then we will have to look at it again but we hope we can learn lessons from this and move on.

“We had a similar result against Trafford last season, when we lost 5-0, and it actually proved the turning point of our season. “After that our form improved and we enjoyed some good results. We have started this season well but maybe that result is a wake-up call.

“Perhaps some of the players had got a little carried away? We are looking for a reaction come Saturday.”