BLACKBURN Rovers reserves opened their pre-season campaign with an emphatic 7-1 drubbing of Kendal Town.

Second half substitute Tom Hitchcock scored a hat trick, while Aaron Doran, Micah Evans, Jamie Maclaren and James Knowles were also on target.

The hosts opened the scoring in the first minute when Mark Peers broke down the right and his cross was slotted home at the far post by Danny Williams.

Rovers hit back instantly though through Aaron Doran as he coolly converted from just inside the area after he latched on to a loose ball.

Jamie Maclaren then headed against the post before Gary Bowyer's took the lead on 22 minutes as the dangerous Micah Evans raced onto a through ball and fired home.

Maclaren made it 3-1 from the penalty spot four minutes later, after he was fouled by Gez Fitzgerald, and the impressive James Knowles completed the half's scoring just seconds before the break.

A plethora of half time changes did little to stop Rovers' superiority as their fitness levels and quick passing proved too much for Kendal to cope with.

Half time substitute Tom Hitchcock added to the scoring on the hour mark, after some good work by Osayamen Osawe, and he scored his second 10 minutes later with a smart finish after Raheem Hanley's driving run.

Hitchcock completed his treble on 75 minutes with another emphatic finish leaving Bowyer every reason to be content with his side's first run out of the summer.

ROVERS: Matthew Urwin (Christopher Dillo 65), Jackson Ramm (Peter Wylie 65), Adam Henley (Raheem Hanley 65), James Knowles (Robbie Cotton 65), Matthew Pearson (Anthony O'Connor 46), Gavin Gunning (Ryan Edwards 65), Aaron Doran (John O'Sullivan 46), Fergus Bell (Daragh Lenihan), Michah Evans (Osayamen Osawe 46), Jamie Maclaren (Tom Hitchcock 46), Zac Aley (Jadan Hall 65)