It finished 36-12 but the form book suggested that Aspatria should have had a comfortable day against Horden and Peterlee.
The North East side started the day well adrift at the bottom of the Durham Northumberland Division One league while Aspatria still harboured promotion hopes.
Aspatria duly took all five points but after the game it was generally agreed that this was the most physically challenging game of the season as Horden ripped into the visitors.
Based on this performance, why Horden have only picked up three wins during the season is a mystery.
It’s not yet official but the current consensus is that the fifth place Aspatria occupy in the league may be good enough to earn promotion.
The Black Reds have two games remaining in the current campaign and currently hold a two point advantage over West Hartlepool, the only club who could yet overtake them.
Aspatria opened the scoring straight from receiving the kick-off. Number eight Gary Hodgson powered through the home defensive line and with Matthew Atkinson on his shoulder saw no need to take a tackle as he put the big second row in space to race under the posts.
More or less immediately Horden grabbed back the iniative and put Aspatria’s defence to the test.
On the nine minute mark Aspatria could only illegally halt Horden’s progress. An easy three points were on offer but the home side had faith in their scrummaging and took this option.
It paid off with another penalty that was quickly taken and before Aspatria could react the home team were under the posts and level on points.
The home score was also the first indication that Aspatria’s set pieces were going to come under pressure throughout the game.
Into the second quarter and the home forwards’ scrum tactics put Aspatria in trouble on several occasions but crucially there was no further damage on the scoreboard.
It took until the 28th minute for the game to move back in favour of Aspatria. At this point a home forward was yellow-carded for an illegal tackle in front of the posts.
This time Aspatria had the advantage in the scrum and used it to pound the line. Atkinson, with assistance from his fellow forwards and simple brute force, crashed over the line for a second converted try.
Five minutes later Atkinson scored his third of the day. This began as a break out of defence by Ryan Scott aided by Josh Watson.
The centres moved the ball down field and created space for the Hodgson and Atkinson double act to take over. At 7-19 things were now turning in Aspatria’s favour but as the half closed there was an element of controversy.
Horden had regained the ball from the restart and resumed their favoured position of a scrum under the posts. Penalties kept coming and with the home side on top the referee’s patience must have been tested but no cards were issued.
Horden’s effort deserved some reward but this game can be cruel and Aspatria eventually escaped without conceding.
The only damage was further downfield where the referee, on the stroke of half-time, finally sent back row Jamie Lightfoot to the bin more or less for the accumulation of penalties being conceded by Aspatria.
The second half proved easier for Aspatria. Horden were still rattling into tackles but the pace of the game began to trouble them. The majority of play was now in the home half but it still took a full 15 minutes for Aspatria to register the bonus point try.
When the score came it was near perfect execution. A penalty was drilled into the corner. The line out was slick and the maul that developed forced Horden into backward steps; ideal for Atkinson to blast off the side and over the line for his fourth.
The killer score followed four minutes later. Back row Cameron Steele, returning to the pack from injury, was the catalyst with a fine tackle and steal around 30 meters out.
With the home defence out of position there was no answer to Aspatria’s sweeping backline movement which put Matthew Irving in at the corner.
With 12 minutes remaining there was some consolation for Horden courtesy of an Aspatria defensive mix-up.
As they had done all game, Aspatria continued to play their way out of defence rather than use the boot to clear any danger. On this occasion it all went wrong and the ball was virtually handed to Horden who moved it to the left flank for an unconverted try.
With little time left there was no realistic prospect of a home come-back but there was enough minutes on the clock for Aspatria to score a sixth try.
Again it was pace of movement that created a hole in the defence and provided Lightfoot with a clear run to the line to end the scoring.
