BLACKBURN paid the price for giving away too many penalties that cost them victory on the long trip to Whitehaven.
In a cagey opening half, the teams went in level at the break with Paul Bleasdale’s penalty cancelling out an earlier effort from the home side.
St Benedicts got the first points of the second half but Blackburn took the lead for the first time on the hour mark when some sustained pressure finally paid off when Marland went over after a fine offload from Damien Miller.
Bleasdale added the extras and Blackburn led 10-6.
And that was extended to 13-6 thanks to another Bleasdale penalty.
Despite having a man advantage following a Saints sin-binning, Blackburn didn’t make it count. And once the home side were back to their full compliment, they cut the gap to 16-9 with a penalty of their own then, with five minutes remaining, scored the decisive try.
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