After losing their last two home games Aspatria were relieved to get a 29-19 win at Bower Park at the expense of a combative Consett side.
It was far from being a classic game as both teams fell foul of the dreadful weather conditions in a constant struggle to build sustained periods of ball retention.
This ensured that fortunes swung markedly between the teams, with the end result in dispute up to the final couple of minutes.
Consett began positively and within a few minutes of the start established a 3-0 lead with a well-struck penalty. Even in these early stages of the game it was clear that this would be a hard, physical game.
Play was barely underway from the re-start before a brawl broke out around halfway. The referee did well to calm the situation.
Aspatria were deemed the aggressors but Consett missed touch with the penalty awarded and the regained possession was used efficiently by Aspatria to advance downfield. A well worked move by the home back division at first looked likely to deliver a try at the right corner flag for winger Grant Bethwaite, and only an excellent defence mounted by Consett thwarted him.
It seemed as if the opportunity was lost but a joint effort by the centre partnership of Guy Reed and Matty Irving kept the ball alive with Reed able to muscle his way over the line.
Aspatria should have extended their 5:3 lead on 14 minutes. A flowing move closed in on the try-line but with a score looking certain Aspatria lost concentration and the ball was mishandled inches short.
Consett’s escape did not go according to plan and Aspatria were able to regain possession but had to settle for an Irving penalty to extend the lead.
Unsurprisingly in the conditions neither side had any firm grip on play, as demonstrated at the re-start where Aspatria not only lost possession but conceded a penalty which was duly despatched to close the gap to two points.
Aspatria did have an advantage in the set scrum and on 23 minutes this was used to post a second try. With Consett being shunted backwards from six metres out, a regulation pick-up by number eight Greg Dickinson engaged the defence and his aggressive charge left scrum half Alex Barton free to take the pass and dart over.
Consett were quick to respond and in a powerful five-minute spell were able to snatch the lead away from their hosts. The problem started for the home side when they gave a repeat performance of losing possession at the re-start and conceding a penalty.
The penalty delivered three points but Consett were not yet done. They regained the ball at the re-start, leading to a highly effective backs move being launched up-field which caught Aspatria off guard, ending in a near unopposed score and a 16-13 lead.
In the closing minutes of the first half the sides exchanged successful penalties to leave Consett with a slender three-point advantage going into the second half.
The weather was deteriorating as the second half kicked off and would only get worse as play proceeded. Overall, Aspatria dealt with the conditions marginally better than Consett but due to the tenacity of the visitors the home side would not achieve full control despite regaining the lead with their first attack of the half.
A penalty handed Aspatria good field position in the Consett 22. The line-out was perfectly executed and Aspatria’s maul to the line proved unstoppable with hooker Adam Cavanagh getting the touchdown.
The 23-19 lead did not look likely to go unchallenged. On 52 minutes Consett had a penalty to add three points but treacherous underfoot conditions rescued Aspatria as the kicker miscued the ball.
This was still anyone’s game. A yellow card for Aspatria’s Reed on 60 minutes again handed the initiative back to Consett alongside another penalty attempt.
Again the kick did not come close to delivering points. Consett looked dangerous and Aspatria were not yet done handing them penalties. For the final penalty in this mini-series Consett abandoned goal attempts and went to the corner but line-outs were also becoming a lottery and a lack of control aided Aspatria’s escape.
Into the final 10 minutes and still nothing settled. A penalty from Irving provided Aspatria with some breathing space but at 26-19 it remained a tense affair. Consett continued to offer a threat but nothing that looked likely to break through a solid Aspatria defence.
It was still a relief for home supporters that with only two minutes remaining a further Irving penalty put the win beyond doubt.
Not too many stars in this Aspatria performance, as it took a whole team effort to claw out the win but special praise did go to one individual. Second row Riley Thwaites in his first full season with the Black Reds seems to get better with each game and he deservedly picked up the man of the match award.
