BLACKBURN have won their first league game of the season at the ninth time of asking.

It has been a nightmare start to life in North Two West, culminating in last weekend’s heavy defeat at arch rivals Rossendale.

But Burn have worked hard to eradicate errors that have plagued their season and picked up a vital two points against mid-table Sandbach.

And it was captain Paul Bleasdale who led by example, kicking 17 of the 22 points, while flying Fijian winger Seta Kolinisau showed just why Blackburn lured him away from Rossendale with a fine solo try.

Team Manager Richard Crayston said: “We worked really hard in training this week to eradicate errors from our game. We have made the same mistakes week in week out during the first eight games and we knew this had to stop.

“The players have taken it on board and we looked a lot more organised and solid than at any time during the season so far. It's a start and something to build on but there remains a lot to work on before out next league game at Wilmslow in two weeks time.”

Blackburn started strongly and Bleasdale, who has missed much of the season through injury, kicked them in to a 3-0 lead with an early penalty. This was soon doubled after further impressive build-up play gave a second kick and Bleasdale used the wind to curl the ball over.

Sandbach responded with two kicks off their own but scrum half Bleasdale gave Blackburn a 9-6 lead at the break with a cooly converted penalty.

The second half was again closely contested but Burn were able to force some territorial pressure and keep the dangerous visiting backs under control. Bleasdale added a fourth penalty after yet another infringment at a ruck and the score was a tight 12-6 with twenty minutes to play.

With both sides defending solidly, chances were limited. But Burn got a crucial score with 10 minutes remaining, with Bleasdale kicking the home side in to a nine point lead.

The match ended in high drama with Kolinisau pulling off a superb try saving tackle and, from the resulting scrum, he raced fully 80 metres to scoring a wonderful solo try, with Bleasdale adding the extras to seal a morale boosting victory.

BLACKBURN: McCarthy, Millea, Reay, Miller, Barron, Copping, Doolan, Ashworth, Bleasdale, Pemberton, Radice, Diggle, Sutcliffe, Kolinsau, Barnes. Replacements: Spicer, Jarrold, Pearson.