With a try count of four to one and a scoreline of 33-16 Percy Park ran out worthy winners at Bower Park.
Yet the visitors did not have it all their own way and Aspatria were able to match them in most aspects of the game apart from one.
That key factor was in finishing off try scoring opportunities when they became available.
Too often Aspatria seemed to have done the hard work only to see the ball turned over or a self-inflicted handling error came to Park’s rescue.
Cut these errors out and Aspatria will be a much more formidable force next season.
Neither side are involved in the leagues promotion nor relegation struggles but this was not reflected in the intensity served up in what turned out to be a full-blooded clash.
Park struck first with seven minutes played. A scrum penalty was earned around half way and this delivered an attacking platform deep in Aspatria territory.
Park went through several phases of well controlled possession before creating space for a try at the left flank corner flag.
The conversion was missed but this was a good opening spell from Park and it took some very committed defence from Aspatria to keep the score at 0-5.
Gradually, Aspatria came back into the contest. On 15 minutes a charging run by prop Jack Gaskell was halted illegally and a Jack Clegg penalty from distance dragged the score line back to 3-5.
On 24 minutes Aspatria lost second row Chris Graham when he was given a yellow card for a high tackle. Graham could consider himself unlucky as the offence was no worse than several preceding incidents committed by both sides in this feisty contest.
Park took back the advantage with a successful penalty shot at goal but it was still Aspatria doing the bulk of the attacking at this stage of the game.
After 28 minutes Gaskell came onto a tapped penalty close to the line and thought he had scored but in the mound of bodies it was impossible for the referee to determine if the ball had been grounded. Aspatria maintained the pressure but a try continued to elude them as the increasing handling error count mounted.
On 33 minutes Clegg knocked over a second penalty to close the gap but minutes later Park returned the gap to five points with one of their own.
In the dying moments of the first half Aspatria’s pack completely destroyed a Park scrum and provided Clegg with another long-range penalty shot which split the posts to end the half 9-11.
The second half could not have started better for Aspatria. Straight from the kick off there was confusion in the Park ranks as they attempted to secure the ball and clear their lines.
Aspatria centre Guy Reed, amongst the mayhem, was delighted to take a pass from a Park player and have an easy gallop to the line and put Aspatria in the lead at 16-11.
Reed’s fortuitous score lifted Aspatria but disaster was only just around the corner. On the attack Aspatria looked to have an excellent opportunity to add to the try tally only to lose the ball at the vital moment and worse, see Park move rapidly down field where a precise passing move brought them level at 16 all.
On 51 minutes Park added a third try. This time it was their turn to enjoy good fortune as they moved the ball rapidly down the left flank and kicked ahead.
Aspatria were favourites to secure the bouncing ball but failed to do so and it was a gift for Park who re-took possession and re-established a lead at 16-23.
Park earned a try bonus point for a fourth try in some style, as the game moved deep into the final quarter.
Excellent forward play close to the home try line was initially matched but it was precise and well controlled and inevitably delivered the few inches required to register a score.
Even at this late stage of the game Aspatria still looked to launch attacks with the hope of delivering a score and maybe a deserved losing bonus point but a final penalty shot by Park took even this consolation away from them.
