BLACKBURN climbed up to third place in the North Lancs/Cumbria division after running in eight tries against Didsbury Toc.

Blackburn used the wind better than their visitors and, coupled with good handling in tough conditions, proved to be too good for the Manchester outfit – Richard Maudsley and man-of-the-match Steve Bibby each scoring two tries.

Despite clocking up half a century of points, it was the visitors who worked the scoreboard first, slotting over an early penalty to go 3-0 up.

Max Fullalove levelled the scores with a penalty of his own before Blackburn took the lead in the 20th minute.

After good work by Rob Parker, the ball was recycled and Maudsley jinxed over for his first try of the afternoon.

That lead was stretched just before the interval when the forwards drove Blackburn upfield before Leon Fifield showed great skill to offload to Liam Oldham who crashed over from 10 yards out.

Fullalove added the extras to make it 15-3 at the break.

With the wind in their favour, Blackburn ran away with it in the second half – scoring a third try just a minute after the restart.

Alan Haworth crossed in the corner after fine play by Fullalove who then kicked superbly from the touchline.

Steve Bibby then scored his first try, reacting first to a loose ball, hacking on before gathering to score in the corner – Fullalove slotting over an even better conversion.

Five minutes later, Bibby scored a wonderful individual try, side-stepping and powering his way to the try line from the 10 metre line.

The kick was missed but Blackburn were soon 41-3 up when a blindside break by Rob Parker resulting with hooker Brad Turf breaking tackles to crash over.

Following Bibby’s excellent individual try, Maudsley added one of his own.

Backing his pace from inside his own half the full back made a wonderful arcing run outside the last remaining defender to touchdown.

Parker was involved again in the eighth and final try before a break by Anton Garcia saw him held up just short of the line but the rampaging Damion Miller crashed over to score.

Coach Dino Radice said: “It was an excellent team performance and it was just reward for all the hard work the players have put in on the cold training nights of late.”