Blackburn 12 Widnes 3

DINO Radice insists Blackburn have nothing to fear in North West One League One this term.

‘Burn go to Carlisle on Saturday buoyed by last weekend’s 12-3 win over Widnes at Ramsgreave Drive, where Leon Fifield kicked all their points in desperate conditions.

That hard fought success fired his side ten points clear of the danger zone, and another success in Cumbria this weekend will give Blackburn’s campaign another significant boost.

“We should be higher up the table, we could have beaten Vale of Lune and Rochdale in our previous two games and to get nothing from either was pretty devastating,” said Blackburn’s coach Radice.

“The right result at Carlisle – and we are not scared about going up there – would lift the depression and gloom from those losses.”

Heavy rain and high winds meant it was not a day for the faint-hearted in a game that Blackburn dared not loss as they bid to establish themselves at this level.

Blackburn began on the front foot, dominating in the scrum and enjoying some early possession.

However, they found it increasingly difficult to keep hold of the ball and it was Widnes who took the lead mid-way through the first half with a penalty kick.

But the home side hit back quickly, Fifield scoring the first of his four penalties to level up the score.

Widnes had a man sent to the sin bin, but Blackburn were unable to ram home their advantage, this time Fifield’s kick falling inches short.

With the score 3-3 at half-time, the contest was in the balance and the visitors came closest to adding to their score when some excellent interplay saw them go within ten metres of the try line, but the pass went to ground.

But Blackburn are made of stern stuff and when they forged ahead on the hour, Fifield popping over a penalty from 30 metres, then there was no way back for Widnes.

Five minutes later Fifield extended the lead to 9-3 with a further penalty.

It was all Blackburn now and with the last play of the game they were awarded a penalty – Fifield kicking over again to deny Widnes a losing bonus point.

Burn now face a tough run of fixtures, beginning in Carlisle, before two more games against Cumbrian opposition in Penrith (home) and Kendal (away).

But the win against Widnes - a fourth of the season - has taken some of the pressure off as they climb up to 10th place and Radice believes his side have little to fear.

“Apart from the top two, then I’m convinced that we can compete at this level and do okay,” added Radice.

“We battled very hard against Widnes, and I was very pleased with our application.”