Hughes helps Blackburn Salle-vage push for title

BLACKBURN’S title bid is back on track after a hard fought bonus-point victory on the road at De la Salle.

The Manchester club is always a tough place to visit but Burn went there knowing only a victory would do following last weekend’s disappointing 8-7 home defeat to title rivals Leigh.

In the only game played in the North Lancs/Cumbria Division, this was a chance for Blackburn to make their game in hand count and tries from Matt Hughes, Sam Morgan, Luke Cunningham and Leon Fifield saw them move to within a point of leaders Leigh.

The hosts, as expected, made Blackburn work for their win and it was the home side who scored the first points of the afternoon, winning a kick and chase to score in the corner.

But Burn were on level terms in the 24th minute when Craig Aikman drew his man and passed to Hughes who, despite being hit by a covering defender managed to stretch for line after falling just short.

Morgan missed the extras but made amends soon after when he was in the right place at the right time to take a pass from Fifield who had expertly kicked and gathered before drawing the last defender and passing to Morgan to score.

Morgan himself added the extras then took his first half personal haul to 10 points with a penalty just before the break.

Burn continued to have the better in the second half and came close to scoring on a couple of occasions.

Anton Garcia burst through and found Hughes who made good progress up the left wing.

However, as he drew the last man, the ball was knocked on and the chance went begging.

Fifield then thought he had scored but the referee adjudged he did not ground the ball.

But Burn finally got the third try they deserved when Cunningham crashed over after good work by JOrdan Pearson, De la Salle applied the pressure but Blackburn stood firm despite being reduced to 13 men when Paul Gregson and Alex Evans were both sin-binned.

An Burn were rewarded for their resistance on 68 minutes as they scored their fourth try to secure a bonus point when Fifield strolled in to scored after more good work by Hughes.