BLACKBURN secured a last minute victory against arch rivals Calder Vale in a match that was more like a battlefield rather than a rugby field.

There was no love lost between the old enemies with two Calder Vale players sin-binned for some over zealous play.

Blackburn drew first blood with a tremendous try from flanker Mark Bullen but went unconverted. Bullen had to retire from the game shortly afterwards in an eyeball to eyeball clash with Calder Vale's second row.

The first half was dominated by forward play with Blackburn trying to suck in their opposition so that the Calder Vale Backs did not get quality ball.

Vale came back with some strong play through the forwards and in one particular run chairman Ian Wilkinson who stole the ball from the opposition scrum half and proceeded to rampage the 25 metres to the line before failing to score what looked to be a certain try.

Vale's front row of Bob Walsh, Shane Hartley and John (Fudge) Hutchinson ensured secure ball from the scrum.

And the forwards continued to pound against the Blackburn defence and were finally rewarded with a determined try by Ian Wilkinson in the second half that was converted by full back Keith Wall. Blackburn began to utilise their younger players in the backs and throughout the second half the game was nip and tuck right until the last minute when a quick spin ball from Bradford to Archer released Archer Junior and centre Jon Leach to score a superb try. Young number eight Dominic Moon had an impressive game.

RESULT: Blackburn 12 Calder Vale 10 BLACKBURN: Alfred Williams, Jim Elston, Bob Fox, Richard Bradford, Mike Holden, Kevin Ainsworth, Mark Bullen, Nick Archer, Tony Archer, Jon Leach, Richard Frazer

John Eccles, John Barcley, Richard Dewhurst, Stuart Rouse, Dominic Moon and Jim Coleman

CALDERVALE: John Hutchinson, Shane Hartley, Bob Walsh Mark Wilson, Paul Warrender, Shaun Sumner, Gary Leyshon, Ian Wilkinson, Howard Hartley, Pete Annice, Mark Lord, Mark Star, Paul Hartley, Mark Robinson and Keith Wall Replacements: Scott Wilson, Paul Barwick, Dax Humberstone, Steven Harper, Andy Foresyth and Ray Evans