Shorn of several regulars, lost to a mix of a stag party, holiday and work commitments, this was not a day to be visiting the league leaders Percy Park on their own ground.
Although Aspatria were still able to field a competent team they were simply not strong enough to seriously test the competitions outstanding side and lost 67-7.
The game was a rearranged fixture and despite the setback, Aspatria’s chase for a promotion place remains intact.
The Black Reds remain in fifth spot but with four games remaining still trail fourth placed Stockton. If they do dislodge the North East side this would guarantee a place in the league above for next season.
All Aspatria can now do is maximise points from the games that are left and hope that, on a tricky run-in, Stockton will slip up.
If Stockton don’t slip up then there is still a small light at the end of the tunnel for Aspatria to home in on.
Unofficial news reached Bower Park this week that when the National League competition is restructured it may include one or more teams finishing fif in their current leagues.
It has to be said that this is just speculation at the moment but it may be a life-line that Aspatria will need.
From the outset it was clear that Percy Park’s main strength lay in a superb back division that contained both skill and pace in abundance.
Throughout the game Aspatria’s pack was able to match the home forwards but it was a completely different story when the ball was in open play.
Percy Park, near enough, turned every chance they created into a try. Added to this the home goal kicker was in great form, slotting over eight of ten attempts, several from the touchline.
Park were 14-0 up within 15 minutes but at this stage Aspatria were still able to mount a creditable resistance and produce some attacking movements that had to be well defended.
The best opportunity for the visitors to respond came on 20 minutes. Excellent work by number eight Gary Hodgson put the visitors close to the try line where several efforts to get over had to be rebuffed by the efficient home defence.
Park increased the lead to 19-0 and it looked as if this would be the half-time score when Aspatria were awarded a penalty and used this to secure a lineout around halfway. The line-out was lost and Park proved clinical in recycling the ball, and within seconds breached the Aspatria line.
Turning round 26-0 down Aspatria set about damage limitation and for a short period provided Park with some evidence that they could not yet relax.
From a scrum 15 yards out Hodgson once again found space and when his progress was halted second row Matthew Atkinson was able to take the ball over the line.
The defiance was welcome but it could not be sustained in the face of Park’s ruthless attacking. Regular scores followed for the home side but even as these were being rattled in, Aspatria still featured with several positive moments of play.
Overall, this is a result that Aspatria need not dwell on as they prepare for the four cup finals that lie ahead in the coming weeks.
