A game of two halves is a much over used expression but at Bower Park Aspatria’s clash with Horden, supporters witnessed the genuine article.
In the first 40 minutes the Black Reds spluttered like an out of tune Morris Minor but after a mechanic, in the guise of coach Mike Scott, tinkered around at half time they re-emerged as an E type Jag fresh out of the showroom.
From leading 7-5 at the break, Aspatria went on to win 54-17 and move to sixth in the Durham/Northumberland One table.
The first half showcased all Aspatria’s frailties rolled into one. Too many penalties, too many chancy off loads and a determination not to show any patience when clearly on top in atrocious conditions.
The floodlights were required to cut through the gloom for the kick off; unhelpfully the rain and swirling breeze never let up, leaving the surface greasy and the ball difficult to control.
A home score came with 12 minutes played. A penalty five metres out was quickly tapped and the play spread across the field, right to left. It was simple stuff with Grant Bethwaite at the end of the line taking the ball over the line. Jack Clegg converted for the first of seven successful kicks during the game.
The score was a relief and disguised the disappointment of the home team missing out on two good opportunities earlier in the proceedings. At this point it was a wall of Aspatria attacking but also one failing to deliver the points that the build-up play deserved.
Around 20 minutes Horden, having survived the Aspatria assault came back into contention. They were let down by a weak line-out but constant infringements by Aspatria kept them in the danger zone. On 26 minutes, from a penalty, a maul was established close to the Aspatria try line. It was well executed and delivered an unconverted try.
Many supporters must have been wondering if it was worth staying for the second 40 or should they decamp to the warmth of the bar. At this point those watching could not have predicted the try fest that was about to lift the Bower Park gloom.
In fact supporters only had to wait four minutes for the floodgates to open. Hooker Adam Cavanagh, whose hard running throughout the game troubled Horden, delivered the score from a five metre penalty. His short and determined run was just too much to handle.
Moments later Horden were down a man. The yellow card was for repeatedly preventing Aspatria taking quick tap penalties. It was now all Aspatria but unlike the first half the chances created were taken with deadly efficiency.
After ten minutes scrum-half Clegg took the ball from a scrum and bamboozled the defence with a darting run. He could not make the line himself but was able to offload to Josh Watson for a stroll in.
Then a Horden penalty kick out of defence designed to relieve pressure fell short and presented Aspatria with an opportunity to launch an attack from just inside the Horden half. Full-back Joe Beaty did most of the damage with a charge down the right flank where Bethwaite took over to go in at the corner for the bonus point try.
Despite the score, Horden were still combative and responded with their second try of the game. It was not exactly a copy of the first but it did demonstrate that they had a knowledgeable pack who if they could get close to the line would do damage.
On 67 minutes prop Danny Penman went over as Aspatria had learned that patience does pay and after a number of well controlled stages by the home forwards a tiring defence left a wide gap for Penman to go through.
More or less from the restart Aspatria moved 40-12 ahead. The impressive Cavanagh destroyed the first up defence. His run got Aspatria into the 22 where Alex Barton joined in and although tackled short of the line, Cavanagh was on hand to finish the move he first created.
Horden looked to be running on empty and tries seven and eight quickly followed. Jamie Lightfoot got the first of these with a snipe from around the 22. This was shortly followed by a Joe Beaty score who won a foot race to the line after Lee Askew had broken open the defence.
With the last play of the game Horden took advantage of a speculative cross kick. Clegg was aiming for his winger but Horden read the play and intercepted to finish the game.
