Blackburn 16 Workington 0

6:23pm Tuesday 11th March 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

BLACKBURN go to struggling De La Salle on Saturday knowing that a point is all they need to secure the league championship.

The Ramsgreave Drive club have been in scintillating form this season as a record run of 17 straight wins has taken them to the brink of the title.

However, chairman of rugby Gareth Dyer, is taking nothing for granted against a side fighting for their lives in the North Lancs/Cumbria Division.

He said: "We need one further point from our three remaining games, starting at De La Salle. But they are in a relegation dogfight and have done themselves the power of good with a tight win at Didsbury at the weekend.

"They will feel confident that they can now catch Toc H and overhaul Oldham and St. Benedicts as well. It's that time of season where all that matters are results."

Blackburn were looking to turn on the style against Workington but instead had to show of their defensive abilities against a side still in the hunt for third place.

Playing with the wind at their backs, Blackburn looked to take advantage. However it was the visitors who looked to tie the home side down by using their large pack to keep the ball.

Workington have enjoyed an excellent first season back in the North Lancs/Cumbria League.

And they made some good inroads in to Burn territory thanks to some impressive forwards play but allowed their hosts to turn them over and retain a territorial stranglehold.

Burn put the first points on the board when skipper Paul Bleasdale slotted over a penalty.

That lead was soon stretched to 10-0 after a well worked score. The Zebras, as Workington are called, tried to drive their way up field but a strong turnover allowed number eight Jordan Pearson to make ground before he linked with Jarrold, Millea and Sutcliffe to send centre Luke Elston over for a try in the corner. In testing conditions Bleasdale added an excellent conversion from wide out to make it 10-0.

Bleasdale kicked two more penalties as Blackburn led 16-0 at the break.They proved to be the last points of the match despite Burn's efforts to add to their tally.

But Dyer was happy with a job well done.

"The boys really wanted to put on a show today and play with the style they have shown throuhout the season. But we had to show the other side to our game in that we were defensively tight, retained possession well and took our chances when they came along."