On Saturday due to both teams having games cancelled, The Eagles entertained the Wanderers in a friendly. Both teams had reduced squads with youngsters mixed in with experience on both sides.

The Pringle pitch was in a remarkable condition considering the recent weather but both teams kicked off with a bitter wind blowing across the pitch. The game would be tight and often feisty affair as Wigton tended to keep the ball up front with Aspatria looking to keep the backs warm and spread the ball.

The 1st half saw Aspatria edge proceedings with some outstanding defence led my evergreen David Humes and Heinie Jonker. They would take a 7:0 lead into half time thanks to a close range try on 30 mins which was well converted by captain Lee Holliday.

The 2nd half would see Wigton apply the pressure with the use of the wind but it took until the 70th min for them to get the equalising converted try. This was at the end of some excellent defence and counter attacking from the under pressure BlackReds. The final 10 mins would see a Wigton player sin binned for persistent infringments and Jack Robinson sin binned for the home side for persistent fighting. Aspatria were now forcing the pace but couldn't quite get the winning score and the game finished 7:7.

This was a really good game to watch as most Derby Games are. For Aspatria the experienced players of David Humes, Lee Holliday, Jack Robinson and Heinie Jonker combined well with the youth of Kai Gilespy, MOM Matty Bell and Jamie Hine amongst others to produce a great game. For Wigton the young player at 7 had a outstanding game resulting in his try.

The Eagles head to Whitehaven next week back in league action. What is obvious is the improvement in those Eagles players now undertaking regular training. Hopefully this will continue and attract a few more players down.