Aspatria’s 11-try haul in a 65-0 win nailed Carlisle to the bottom of the Regional Two North table.
But it wasn’t enough to move the Black Reds out of the relegation zone.
This comfortable victory over a struggling Carlisle did at least demonstrate to the rest of the league that the Black Reds are no pushovers and do have the fire power to improve their current standing.
Carlisle, neither lacked intent nor fight in this one-sided contest, but they could not mount a defence that came anywhere near to coping with Aspatria’s back division, who ripped the City men apart at every opportunity.
Aspatria started the game playing into a stiff breeze but found this no handicap. Within three minutes the home side grabbed the lead and set the pattern for the rest of the game. The movement developed to secure this first score would be replicated many times during the match.
It all started with Aspatria’s forwards securing the ball well inside their half and then releasing it to the back line.
Centre Joe Beaty and fullback Guy Reed played important parts in the move upfield with the move ending in a try by right winger Zak Olstrum.
In the very early stages of the game it was not yet obvious that Aspatria would run riot. Carlisle certainly had their moments. The City men turned down penalty chances to get on the score board in favour of going for tries but lacked the control and perseverance to break down a solid home defence.
The second Aspatria score was something special – a solo effort by scrum half Alex Barton.
He really should not have crossed the line as several defenders stood in the way as he began his dart from 25 meters out and simply batted away some unconvincing tackle attempts.
Although 10-0 down in 11 minutes Carlisle were still playing as if they had something to offer but this all changed when Aspatria posted a third try.
It was the same pattern as the first with Aspatria’s Grant Bethwaite starting the attack on the left flank, deep in his own half and evading tackles. Seconds later the score was registered by Reed who had a clear run down the right touchline.
The bonus point try came on 23 minutes, yet another move starting with Carlisle turning over the ball deep in Aspatria territory.
It began to rain tries, Aspatria would go onto post a further four tries before half time.
Home supporters have seen some great rugby at Bower Park over the years but no one present could recall an eight-try haul, without reply, before the half time whistle.
Bethwaite, Jack Clegg, Jamie Lightfoot and Luke Jackson all added their names to the try scoring roster as Aspatria began the second half with a 48 point lead.
The general pattern of the game remained the same but to their credit Carlisle mounted a spirited response which at least eliminated walk-in scores.
They would go on to concede a further three tries but Aspatria had to work hard for each of them.
The best of the bunch came around 60 minutes and was delivered by centre Ryan Scott. It was a deserved reward for Scott who throughout the game had demonstrated his importance to Aspatria’s attacking game plan.
Almost, every time Scott comes into possession he sets the defence a challenge and as Carlisle found out it is often one without a solution.
