Blackburn 10pts Aspull 5

BLACKBURN retained their grip at the top of North West Division One with a dogs of war performance against Aspull on Saturday.

Blackburn began the game playing with the assistance of a strong wind and needed a big margin to help relieve the pressure sure to be exerted by Aspull in the second half.

The conditions dictated the style of play which resulted in the home side playing the touchlines and relying on their considerable line-out presence to retain possession.

Martin Smith, man of the match and a giant at number two, did not disappoint.

After making some encouraging breaks, the pack were guilty of failing to secure possession which let Aspull off the hook and speaks highly of their belligerent defence.

With 10 minutes gone, Blackburn forced a penalty five yards from the opposition line and it was the quick thinking centre Simon Greenhalgh who tapped it to himself and dived over to score the try that Westhead converted.

Aspull had little choice but to run the ball from deep inside their own half which was always going to be risky with the rain lashing down, but they were not without some success. Brave tackling from the whole team denied them until a few minutes from half time when an unlikely lapse allowed their winger space to dash down the right to score.

At half time the score was 10-5 and it would have been courageous to bet on the score staying that way, but it did.

No one at Blackburn is under any illusions about how hard it will be to win this league, but Saturday's second half displayed the type of grit and guts that are necessary to do it.

Blackburn dug themselves into their trenches expecting the bombs from Aspull, but when they came it was too late.

Blackburn had very few clear scoring opportunities and Aspull were also held to a bare minimum of chances, a testament to the home team's stonewall defence.

Ultimately Aspull's backs lacked the penetration required by their combative pack and it would have been an upset had they won.

But to deny them took concentration of the highest order and the relief was palpable at the final whistle.

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