It was high noon at the Nest as Blackburn welcomed the Wild for a country-themed clash, with over 1,200 spectators showing for the Hawks’ first theme night of the season.

Blackburn arrived firmly in the title hunt, but the Widnes Wild were no strangers to a scrap, having undergone a summer revival of their own.

The statement signing of Nottingham Panthers prodigy Alex Rushby was one thing, but the Wild had also recruited heavily from Blackburn’s championship-winning ranks, with four former Hawks returning to face their old teammates.

With old allegiances set aside and points on the line, the stage was set for a Wild West shootout as former teammates faced off on opposite sides of the ice.

A barnstorming beginning saw Blackburn welcome Widnes with a breakthrough midway through the opening period.

Regan Kidd was the first gunslinger out of the holster, opening his Hawks account with an unassisted strike from the blue line.

Just two minutes later, another defensive breakthrough saw Lee Pollitt double the advantage, finishing off a move built by Andy McKinney and Adam Barnes.

Player-coach McKinney wasted no time getting back in the saddle, scoring just 23 seconds into the second period.

Canadian import Luca Maiuri added a fourth four minutes later.

The Wild eventually found a way past Dmitri Zimozdra, with former Hawk Jakub Hajek ending the netminder's shutout streak.

Blackburn kept their guns blazing in the final frame, peppering former teammate Ollie Thomasson with 23 shots in just 20 minutes.

The Chicago-born stopper succumbed to a Liam Charnock concluder, capping off a five-star night for the Hawks.

With the Wild rounded up, the Hawks returned to The Castle for the second time this season, looking to storm the fortress once again and strike down the Leeds Knights II for the second consecutive week.

Blackburn drew first blood just three minutes into proceedings, as McKinney capitalised on a Knights delay-of-game penalty to put the visitors ahead on the powerplay.

The captain then turned provider, setting up Finnish forward Elmeri Hallfors to double the advantage.

Leeds responded through Jake Wigginton late in the first period before Ollie Gotts levelled the scores shortly after the restart, leaving the Hawks needing to rediscover their early swagger.

They duly obliged.

James Royds restored Blackburn's lead before Hallfors bagged his brace, with 18-year-old Josh Milnes rounding off a dominant middle frame to register his fourth point of the season.

The Hawks looked to have taken control, but the Knights refused to give up the fight.

Hallfors completed his hat-trick just a minute into the frame, only for Leeds to fire back with two goals in quick succession, separated by just 50 seconds.

With the Knights sharpening their swords and the game hanging in the balance, a fifth Leeds goal ensured a nervy finish.

Zimozdra stood firm, however, as Blackburn clung on to claim a hard-fought regulation victory and complete the weekend sweep.

A winning weekend sees Blackburn perched at the peak of the NIHL1 North table, made all the more sweet by rivals Solihull and Deeside both slipping up.

The Hawks return to the Nest next Saturday for a Halloween spooktacular against the Nottingham Lions, before Sunday brings a showdown with the only side to have bested Blackburn this season, in Solihull.

With the top spot to defend and revenge on the agenda, it promises to be a frighteningly good weekend of hockey in Lancashire.