League leaders Percy Park rolled into Aspatria and demonstrated why they are on top of the pile as they won 30-25.
They hit near perfection in the first half of this Regional Two North clash with a 15 minute spell of blue ribbon rugby that threatened to end the contest before the first quarter was complete.
That Aspatria should not only come back from this early mauling but threaten a late comeback is deserving of equal praise.
When the dust settles this fightback should please the coaching team as it was achieved without several key players, unavailable through injury and delivered a hard earned bonus point.
Aspatria were quick out of the blocks and with only a couple of minutes played had established a 3-0 advantage courtesy of a long-range penalty from Matty Irving.
The Percy Park showreel of training ground-inspired moves commenced with just five minutes on the clock.
It would end 14 minutes later and in that time three quality tries were delivered.
It could be argued that Aspatria contributed to the visitors success with some poor ball retention but the scores themselves were unstoppable.
Number one followed a scrum on the 22 and when the ball was won and swung left, to be followed by a mesmerising series of runs and false runs, proving too much for a static Aspatria defence.
The second came from intelligent movement, structured to create space while the third was a near perfect combination of ball retention, aligned with precise but quick movement.
Willing runners appeared everywhere and it was all too much as the first quarter ended with Aspatria facing an uphill struggle, trailing 19-3.
Even during this period of Percy Park dominance Aspatria had shown glimpses that their power runners were able to cause trouble but at this stage of the game the concession of penalties and questionable ball retention played into the hands of the visitors.
The referee had previously warned Aspatria about the penalty count and on 23 minutes Irving paid the price with a yellow card.
It was a further setback but from this point Aspatria began to get a grip on the game. Play became focussed in the Park half and a penalty towards the 22 placed Aspatria in the danger area.
A line-out followed and it was perfectly executed to set up an abrasive run by second row Tom Gardner that took him through the Park defensive wall and over the line for an unconverted try.
In the minutes preceding half-time the teams swopped penalties to end the first 40 minutes with Aspatria trailing 22-11, to be only 11 points adrift was a positive for Aspatria but the good mood was soon dampened.
Two minutes into the second period Percy Park registered a fourth bonus point try. It was double disappointment for Aspatria as the move up-field came when a promising home attack broke down in the Park 22.
Park made the most of the unexpected opportunity to spread the ball to the left wing and race three quarter lengths of the pitch to dot down and extend the lead.
The game seemed won for Park. Any neutrals observing the game would probably expect them to go on and win with something to spare.
Not so and not for the first time this season Aspatria delivered their best rugby as the second half progressed.
On 54 minutes, Aspatria seemed certain to score a second try. Back-row Greg Dickinson poached the ball just inside the Park half and broke through the defence with nothing standing in his way.
Dickinson’s looked to be running through treacle as he made his way to the posts but it still took an amazing recovery tackle from Park to bring him down short.
Taking into account what was about to unfold this single tackle may well prove critical to Park’s championship ambitions.
The Aspatria revival was now on. Possession was about even but it was the home team who began to look the more dangerous.
On 68 minutes Park took a pragmatic approach to affairs and seemed to have settled the final result with a penalty to widen the gap to 30-11.
Aspatria were far from done. The home team set about Park and for the first time their defence appeared less enthusiastic.
A brace of penalties placed Aspatria within touching distance of the line.
Patience was the key and the ball fell to Heinie Jonker whose powerful run under the posts skittled several defenders right and left.
Seven minutes remained on the clock with the difference 12 points but Aspatria were now in charge with Park just about holding on.
The last few minutes were being used up when home stand-off Jack Clegg wrong-footed the defence and raced through before unloading to right wing Grant Bethwaite who dotted down.
Time was up but Aspatria still needed Irving to deliver a conversion to secure a losing bonus point and he duly delivered to end the match.
