CURRENT form overcame past records as Rossendale ran out victors in the EDF Intermediate Cup first round clash at Ramsgreave Drive.

In what proved to be a classic game of two halves, Dale finally got the better of their East Lancashire rivals having lost three of the four previous encounters.

The two teams have had contrasting fortunes since promotion to North Two West with Rossendale riding high in fifth place with three wins under their belt while rock-bottom Blackburn are still waiting for that elusive first victory.

The opening exchanges were a tense affair, with Blackburn desperate to retain the ascendancy of recent encounters with ‘Dale. Sharp, sniping runs from Burn’s returning captain and scrum half Paul Bleasedale kept Blackburn on the front foot and ‘Dales’ defence on their toes.

But Dale held firm as their hosts had nothing to show for their early opening fervour.

And it was Dale who drew first blood after some fine forward play which saw a lineout caught and driven fully 15m with Goosen touching down.

From the restart, Blackburn were pinned inside their own 22. Now it was their turn to repel attack after attack and after keeping Dale at bay, Stirrup deftly chipped over the onrushing defenders into the right corner for Dennison to score.

Blackburn restarted the contest with real venom, and for a period looked like a team in the ascendant. However a series of huge tackles from the Valley pack snuffed out this threat and ‘Dale half backs kicked cleverly into the corners. Now dominant in the lineout, Dale added a third try when Bramhall found flying fullback Squires at full pace who ghosting through the Blackburn midfield to round Radice and score in the right corner.

In the second half Burn had more of the game and will look back on numerous mistakes that prevented them from getting into a winning position. They forced one try through centre Diggle after a superb break by Navalutou but four kicks at goal were missed while the number of dropped balls and unforced errors increased as the match wore on.

Rossendale coach David Wood, sidelined by injury, said: “A very pleasing display, with the return of Mark Ellinor adding real impetus to the already impressive pack.”

“We made far too many unforced errors,” admited Blackburn’s team manager Richard Crayston. “We were sloppy defensively in the first half and we didn't take the chances that came our way in the second half.”