A 10-try haul in a 62-7 victory put to bed any doubts circulating Bower Park that Aspatria will not survive the rigours and standards being set in Regional 2 North.
The league has a clear split with five teams, headed by Morpeth, vying for promotion.
Below these ‘elite’ sides the other seven clubs seem to be of a similar standard and it is amongst this group that Aspatria’s crucial battles will be fought.
Saturday’s visitors South Shields-based Westoe are one and as the game progressed, in the face of increasing pressure, their defensive effort simply collapsed.
This did not tell the whole story of the game. At half-time Aspatria held a solid lead but at this stage Westoe still resembled a team capable of sustaining the fight and one that might get something from the game.
In fact it took Aspatria until the final quarter of the match to end all resistance but when they did so, they ran riot.
The early stages of the game were a fairly even affair. Heavy rain earlier in the day had left the playing surface very slick, leading to several unforced ball spillages by both teams.
Westoe had a good opportunity to open the scoring on four minutes when a penalty was awarded near enough in front of the posts.
At that stage they still had enough belief in themselves to run the ball. The ploy did not work and after some sharp attacks at the line Aspatria regained the ball and were able to punt upfield.
There appeared no danger but the ball was misfielded and Aspatria’s Josh Watson was onto the unlucky defender to steal the ball before he could recover composure.
Black and Red shirts flew up the pitch in support and centre Guy Reed took the ball all the way under the posts for a converted try.
Try number two came after 17 minutes and this time there was no good fortune involved just simple, precise rugby. Forward interchanges moved the ball down the right flank and this sucked in the defence leaving the left side of the field sparsely defended and an opportunity for Zak Olstrum to stroll in through a gap created by full-back Joe Beaty who had joined the line.
Westoe were next to score through a penalty try after a quick tap in the Aspatria 22 caught the home defence scrambling to get into position.
All they could do was illegally bring down the runner and as well as the try the incident cost second row Tom Gardner 10 minutes in the sin bin.
Aspatria struck next on 28 minutes with a solo effort from scrum half Alex Barton.
Around 20 metres out, he took a quick tap and his initial dart was simply not defended by Westoe.
Shortly before half-time Olstrum struck for a second time but it was the excellence of his opposite winger, Grant Bethwaite who handed him the score.
Bethwaite fielded a relieving kick deep in his own half and set off on a run that took him a full 50 meters into Westoe territory where Olstrum took over to round the remaining defender and score.
A try bonus point in the bag by half-time, Aspatria looked set for their first win of the season but Westoe started the second half with renewed belief.
Aspatria simply could not clear their line even when possession was regained. The visiting forwards put together multiple phases and were no more that inches away from the try line on several occasions.
A score looked almost inevitable but the home defence was immaculate and when Westoe failed to add to their tally home supporters knew it was going to be their day.
Around the 60 minute mark Ryan Scott came off the bench to take his place at centre. His impact was almost immediate as he battered his way through Westoe’s first up defence to set up a superb backline move that ended with Bethwaite going over. At 33-7 the floodgates were about to open.
The game went into the final quarter with Westoe looking out on their feet and in this closing period Aspatria were about to rattle in a further five tries.
The first was another good combination between wingers Olstrum and Bethwaite. This time it was Olstrum who did the donkey yards into the 22, leaving Bethwaite to take on the ball and race over.
Minutes later the home forwards finally got in on the try-scoring act. The passing interchange around midfield proved too much for Westoe leaving back row Jamie Lightfoot with an easy run under the posts.
With ten minutes remaining try number eight was posted by the new double act of Olstrum and Bethwaite.
Others were involved but it was Bethwaite who created the final gap for Olstrum to stroll over the line and dot down.
At this stage Westoe just wanted the whistle to blow but in the few minutes remaining Aspatria managed to add a further two tries to complete the ten.
Hard-working number eight Stuart Creighton dived over from the back of a five metre scrum and with the last move of the day Beaty’s silky run just outpaced the defence to put the icing on the cake.
