Despite relegation closing in, Cockermouth arrived at Bower Park full of grit, determined to end Aspatria’s unbeaten home record and put a dent in a home ambition to chase down a top three finish.
Cockermouth’s never quit attitude would go on to earned praise from both sets of supporters but in the end it was simply not enough to halt the Black Red juggernaut and prevent Aspatria’s progress up the league standings with a 33-3 victory.
Aspatria move to fifth in the league, within striking distance of Middlesbrough and Durham City who currently hold 4th and 3rd places.
Significantly, both these teams have still to visit Bower Park where Aspatria remain undefeated.
For Cockermouth it is a different story. A return to the Cumbria League looks inevitable but it was clear from this game that they do have the talent to regroup in the lower league and make a swift return to Regional 2 North.
Aspatria’s pack once again laid the foundations for this five-try victory. The home side’s scrummaging has bettered most opponents this season and it was no different in this game.
The pummelling taken by Cockermouth started at the first scrum and continued throughout the game. This was a massive advantage and racked up a significant penalty count in Aspatria’s favour.
With five minutes played Aspatria’s pack won the ball on Cockermouth’s 22 and when the ball was transferred to the back line it was regulation work that got the ball to the opposite flank where left wing Zak Olstrum had space to round the final defender and score.
The extra two points were added by centre Matty Irving whose all-round kicking game has become pivotal in Aspatria’s recent run of success.
A big response came from the Cockermouth ranks. Ed Gate missed with an early penalty opportunity but the firing gun had sounded for the visitors to unleash an intense period of play in and around the Aspatria 22.
The onslaught was sustained for around six minutes and it demanded the very best from a tight Aspatria defence in which backrow veteran Phil Dixon was simply magnificent and he would deservedly go on to pick up the home man of the match award.
Cockermouth had nothing to show for a fine spell of pressure and paid the price on 19 minutes when they lost a series of scrums close to their try line with the last of these rolling over the line for number eight Greg Dickinson to dot down for 14-0.
The Cockermouth response again deserved praise as they hounded Aspatria but the intensity of earlier attacks had been lost, errors crept in and again the home side escaped unscathed.
Prior to half-time Aspatria wasted a couple of decent opportunities to extend the lead. Not without some irony a final break-out just ahead of the half-time whistle allowed Cockermouth to move down-field where Gate used a penalty to end the half at 14-3.
The second half witnessed the best of Aspatria by and large condemning Cockermouth to an energy-sapping 40 minutes of defensive duty.
The home side kicked-off and immediately seized back possession, mounting several phases of attack. The try came with just three minutes gone following a break through the defensive line by stand-off Jack Clegg.
Clegg was dragged down but the defence now in disarray fell victim to a grubber kick by full-back Grant Bethwaite into the dead-ball area where Olstrum won the race to touch down.
There was then a short wait for the bonus point try which came on 54 minutes, which was a beauty, putting the result beyond any doubt.
Aspatria came into possession around halfway and the move towards the try line had significant contributions from both backs and forwards.
The final phase was a darting run up the right flank by Bethwaite. He might have gone all the way but unselfishly unloaded to winger Ross Barton who raced the final few steps to the line.
The intensity of the game died down around this stage. Overall it was Aspatria still in control and doing most of the attacking but in turn Cockermouth possessing the will to put bodies on the line and prevent any deterioration of the 26-3 score line.
With around 10 minutes remaining Aspatria upped the tempo and a fifth try followed. This time it was pure forward power that delivered.
A penalty line-out five metres out handed possession to Matthew Atkinson who charged to the line through a maze of bodies.
Brave defending stopped Atkinson inches short where a ruck developed. Scrum half Alex Barton, with hands on the ball, had the presence of mind to note a gap on a very narrow blind side and call on prop Arran Sullivan to charge in.
The ball to Sullivan was perfectly delivered and momentum was sufficient to carry him over the line and end the day’s scoring.
