STEVE Kerry may well have kicked Blackburn a step nearer to North Division One with a 19-point haul in a thrilling 29-20 win against promotion rivals Chester.

The outside half produced a faultless performance to convert seven kicks out of seven as Blackburn completed the 'double' over Chester - despite being out scored three tries to two.

Kerry was instrumental in a second half fightback that saw Blackburn bounce back after they trailed 15-6 at the break.

In fact, if Chester's full back Steve Astbury had shown even a glimpse of Kerry's ability then it would have been his side that would be celebrating victory.

The full back missed two vital kicks in the closing minutes - a conversion that would have levelled the scores at 22-22 and then a penalty that would have given Chester the lead.

However to Blackburn's credit they made the most of their superior possession and when Kerry was called upon he delivered the goods to score five penalties and two conversions.

Kerry opened the second half with two penalties to put Blackburn within three points of Chester and they took the lead for the first time when Freeman Payne scored the first of his two tries when he crashed through the opponents' back line to score. Blackburn then appeared to be coasting to victory but in a real see-saw battle Chester clawed their way back into the game with a try which Astbury failed to convert which would have drawn the sides level.

Then with an easier kick minutes later Astbury pulled his kick wide and so went Chester's chance of victory. And it was apt that man of the match Kerry had a hand in the try that sealed the points when he passed to Payne and the powerful centre broke through two tackles to score.

Blackburn now have a vital game against third-placed Driffield who also stand a chance of going up with the last two games of the season against the Vale of Lune and West Park Bramhope.

Blackburn: Nick Westhead, Barry Greenwood, Freeman Payne, Duncan McCauley, Alan Haworth, Steve Kerry, Scott Foster, John Young, Andy Whalley, Graham McKendry, Mick McHugh, Phil Crayston, Adam Smith, Stuart Jarrold and John Beeston. Replacements: Perran Gill, Tony Hodgson and Nigel Atherton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.