BLACKBURN RUFC lifted the first piece of silverware in their 126-year history when they beat Aspull at Sedgley Park to take the Thwaites Lancashire Trophy.

And the 24-10 victory was particularly memorable for coach Steve Kerry, who figured in the starting line-up for the first time this season.

"Two of our main centres, Andy Graham and Matt Spence, were both unavailable, so it was a case of pulling on the trusty boots again," said 38-year-old Kerry - an ex-Salford rugby league star and a regional sales manager with sponsors Thwaites - after the historic win.

"I only had about an hour of match action behind me this season, but I came through okay and the lads were absolutely magnificent.

"We prepared very professionally for the final, going away to a hotel the night before, and always felt we had the sign over Aspull having already beaten them twice in the league.

"After such a long wait for a trophy it is wonderful for Blackburn to taste success - let's hope it proves to be the first of many."

Another Blackburn player with extra reasons for celebration was scrum half Paul Bleasdale, who was named man-of-the-match.

Both clubs faced stern tests on their way to the final with Aspull overcoming Birchfield, Blackpool and Warrington, while Blackburn had seen off Broughton Park and had managed one-point victories against Leigh and Oldham.

Straight from the kick off Burn, kitted out in commemorative red jerseys, went on the offensive.

Inside ten minutes the early pressure paid off when Gareth Evans seized upon a poor defensive kick and laid Dino Radice in to power in under the posts. Evans himself converted to give Burn the perfect start.

Five minutes later they were threatening again, this time using the ever successful rolling maul.

Aspull couldn't handle the power of players such as Andy Ridehalgh and the towering Shaid Khan and it showed as they made good ground towards the try line.

The ball was squeezed out and the influential Kerry fired it out wide to pacy winger Alan Howarth who jinked past his man to score in the corner.

With their tails up and playing good rugby, Aspull had their work cut out to try and stop Blackburn embarrassing them and they managed to do it effectively.

They kept looking to exploit holes in the Burn back line and were trying to free stealthy winger Tony Barton - who was a threat to Blackburn all afternoon with his pace and direct running - at every opportunity.

They made a breakthrough on the 25 minute mark when prop Steve Bailey notched a penalty. Evans hooked a kick from his twenty-two and Aspull took possession.

In the ensuing ruck, whistle happy referee Mike Toole penalised Burn for coming in at the side and Bailey mopped up.

But Burn refused to falter and were posing a try threat five minutes later.

A terrific kick from young fly-half Luke Elston bounced invitingly for winger Evans, who beat his man to the ball but couldn't get down over the line thanks to some good defending from Aspull's Rick Owen, who somehow kept Evans at bay when the try seemed imminent.

Evans did get his try, however, two minutes before the interval.

Some good handling from the Blackburn backs switched the play from one wing to another and Steve Kerry again supplied the ammunition for the powerful Evans who steamrolled his man to touch down.

Evans picked himself up to convert the try and Burn took a commanding lead into the interval.

Aspull had worked hard to reach the final and wanted to make a game of it in the second half - and they did.

They were applying pressure to the Burn back line but their running was thwarted by some heroics by the tenacious flankers Micky Doolan and Dominic Moon.

Full-back Radice showed good covering skills to twice thwart a certain Aspull try. Aspull were huffing and puffing but seemed to be running out of breath.

All their hard work was to be undone ten minutes from time when Burn struck again.

Man-of-the-match Bleasdale directed the ball out wide and the fleet-footed Alan Howarth was fed again to go over, effectively killing off the game and Aspull's cup hopes.

The men from Wigan did however salvage some pride with their solitary try five minutes from time when flanker Pip Ivory went over and the kick was converted.

But Blackburn were the deserved winners and their effort and determination was epitomized in the final minutes when Alan Sutcliffe, Steve Kerry and Adam Smith charged 50 yards up the field to pressurise their opponents and win the ball back. The final whistle went and the Blackburn players jumped for joy.

In a touching moment, captain Adam Smith invited coach Phil Crayston, who has bravely battled back from serious illness, to collect the trophy with him to cap off a landmark day in the history of Blackburn.