PAUL Millea was the unlikely try-scoring hero as Blackburn ran riot at Upper Eden.

The hooker scored a remarkable four tries from the front row as the North Lancs/Cumbria Division leaders ran in nine tries.

Centre Richard Maudsley crossed for a hat-trick and full back Nick Barnes helped himself to a brace while skipper Paul Bleasdale could only convert three tries - although the conditions meant it wasn't a day for kickers.

Playing in to the wind, Blackburn kept the ball in hand and scored just after two minutes when Maudsley crossed wide out after some good linking play between backs and forwards.

Blackburn repelled anything Upper Eden could throw at them thanks to some crunching tackles from the likes of Elston, Jarrold, Copping and Miller before Millea scoed two quick tries before the break.

Millea completed his hat-trick soon after the restart another forward drive before Maudsley got his second with a sprint for the line.

Barnes stormed over for his first after finishing off a strong backs move before Millea ran in from 20 yards after the evergreen Miller spotted room down the blindside.

Barnes touched down for his second and with five minutes remaining, Maudsley completed the rout after a deft pass by prop Reay.

Team Manager Richard Crayston said: "This was a fine performance. We played with a lot of intensity and the ambition to play was superb. This helps our points difference and adds further pressure to the chasing pack.

"It's nice to collect two points but the performance levels have been good over the last two weeks and that has brought added confidence to the team. We will now look to repeat this level when we face Fleetwood at home next Saturday."

BLACKBURN: 1) McCarthy 2) Millea 3) Reay 4) Miller 5) Beeston 6) Copping 7) Jarrold 8) Pearson 9) Bleasdale 10) Elston 11) Thomas 12) Lambert 13) Maudsley 14) Pickles 15) Barnes. Subs: 16) Calcutt 17) Naude 18) Bromley.