ASPATRIA 30 : 31 ASPULL

Aspatria went down 30:31 in the opening home fixture of season. Not the result the Black Reds would have wished for as they were undone by the final play of the game.

It was a pulsating game of high quality rugby with the lead changing hands on several occasions. Aspull were good value for the victory with their experienced 10, 12 axis being heavily involved in most of the decisive plays. Aspatria will have no complaints and can take some consolation in the 2 bonus points earned in defeat.

Bower Park was in immaculate condition for this clash and the home side opened brightly. With only 3 minutes gone the ball was worked upfield where a penalty was conceded to allow Jack Clegg to put 3 points on the board.

From the outset it became obvious to those watching that Aspull were a well drilled side containing some talented individuals. The early setback was countered by a ferocious assault on the Aspatria line. The defence initially held but was eventually undone by a smart chip kick into the deadball area. It was a close run thing but Aspull centre, West was first to the ball to put his side into a 3:7 lead after 7 minutes.

On 11 minutes Aspatria regained the lead. A smart piece of work by Clegg from scrum half had him shooting down a narrow blindside on the right. His break was followed up by winger Ross Barton who took the pass in his stride to cross in the corner. Clegg converted from the touchline for 10:7.

Aspatria managed to hold the lead into the second quarter but cracks were beginning to appear under a relentless offensive by Aspull. The visitors were monopolising possession and pushing Aspatria deeper towards the post.

On 22 minutes Aspull drew level with a Liam Reeve penalty. There was no respite for Aspatria and it came as no surprise when Aspull regained the lead on 29 minutes with another Reeve penalty.

Aspatria reacted positively to going behind and gradually began to gain an increasing share of the ball. On 33 minutes a bit of desperate defence saw Aspull’s prop, Murray, in the bin. Aspatria looked set to score but less than clinical handling let them down and worse was to follow as with the half closing they took a sucker punch. Yet another chip over the defensive line was regained by Aspull and with one more pass centre Tom Johnson was under the posts to close the half 10:18.

In the early phases of the second period Aspatria were transformed. Black and Red runners were coming on to every ball and disrupting the Aspull defence. Clegg took an early penalty opportunity to close the deficit to 13:18. The crowd witnessed a role reversal that might just prove decisive. Aspull were made to struggle for possession and Aspatria battered the line. A highly committed defence from Aspull stood in Aspatria’s way and it proved good enough. Aspatria could not gain the inches they required and on 50 minutes Aspull were able to breakout and charge upfield. This foray yielded a third penalty for Reeve to extend the lead to 13:21.

Aspatria stuck to their task and the next 15 minutes provided some superb rugby from the home team. The fun and games started on 54 minutes when centre Lee Tinnion burst through some lack lustre defence in mid-field to race away to the 22 line. Tinnion was stopped but the ball eventually worked out to the right wing where second row Matthew Atkinson was waiting to stroll over to bring the score back to 18:21.

Next up was No 8 Gary Hodgson. The move started with a botched lineout that worked in Aspatria’s favour as Hodgson unexpectedly came into possession. He made the most of it to race towards the posts. The move was initially held up but the defence was in disarray and when Hodgson regained possession he went over the line to re-establish a lead of 25:21.

The 4th try to secure a bonus point, and what looked at the time a winning margin, came on 68 minutes. It was a classic. The Aspatria pack took possession a full 23 meters from the Aspull try line and engineered a classic driving maul that took them all the way. Atkinson dotted down but this was an eight man effort. With 10 minutes left on the clock Aspatria’s held a 30:21 advantage and in the context of the game it seemed enough for a full 5 points.

Aspull had another plan. Aspatria’s dominance of the previous 15 minutes deserted them and with 7 minutes remaining Aspull used some of the home side’s uncertainty to haul them back into contention. Aspatria just could not hang on to the ball and from a situation handed to them by the home side Aspull took full advantage with West crossing for his second of the day. The conversion narrowed the gap to 30:28.

As the final minutes and seconds crawled by it seemed as if Aspatria would hang on. Aspull were mounting a last ditch attack but the game was deep in stoppage time and everyone at Bower Park whether on the pitch or in the crowd knew that one Aspull mistake would end the contest.
The mistake did come but it was Aspatria who infringed. Reeve was presented with a final penalty shot from the left touchline. It was a high pressure kick but the No10 made no mistake as he snatched the victory for his team and end the game 30:31.