Following a home defeat at the hands of rapidly improving Guisborough, Aspatria’s flirtation with the battle to avoid relegation continues.
An impressive first-half performance provided the key to victory for Guisborough, but in the final minutes of the game it was a close-run affair as Aspatria clawed their way back into contention.
Only one issue was decided in the scramble away from the danger zone: Kirkby Lonsdale’s defeat at the hands of Upper Eden.
This defeat confirms that KL will finish bottom of the league.
The battle to avoid a second relegation place is down to two remaining games and is a four way fight between Aspatria [32 pts], Guisborough [30], Carlisle [30] and Upper Eden [29]. It is too close to call.
The Guisborough resurrection story is the talk of the league and after a difficult season this third straight win lifted them out of the relegation places, providing a realistic opportunity to avoid the drop.
On a gloriously sunny day at Bower Park, Guisborough opened with a spell of rugby that left Aspatria supporters in no doubt that there was real substance to the revival.
Within the first 15 minutes the visitors had scored two stunning tries courtesy of a well drilled backs division and established a 0-12 advantage.
Aspatria were off the pace in these early exchanges, any attacks mounted were effectively diffused by the Guisborough defence.
Midway through the half, Aspatria’s fortunes began to improve when they achieved an element of superiority in the set piece scrum.
This delivered a handful of threatening field positions but none could be turned into points and it was Guisborough who finished the half on top with the final move of the 40, bringing a third try.
At half time Guisborough led 0-17 and it looked a long way back for Aspatria. Even longer after a couple of minutes play in the second period when the rampant visitors roared upfield and made it 0-24.
It looked job done for Guisborough who now had hands on a try bonus point and what looked very much like a winning lead.
Confidence was high and rightly so but this battle was far from over. A badly wounded Aspatria responded with a resurgence that thrilled home supporters and had the large number who had travelled from Guisborough praying for the final whistle.
The home pack led the way but it took until the start of the final quarter for Aspatria to break Guisborough’s resilience. The first try was nailed when No8 Chris Graham broke off the back of a scrum deep in the 22 and was unstoppable on his route to the corner flag.
At this stage it looked more like a consolation score but whatever it was it lit the blue touch paper. Aspatria were now in full flow and winning battles all around the field. The second Aspatria try followed on 65 minutes. In truth it was a messy affair following a lineout.
No one seemed to know where the ball was, except Mark Watson who emerged from a morass of players to dot down and close the gap to 12-24.
With 10 minutes remaining it was all Aspatria. Guisborough were defending with passion but could not halt a home team determined to run the ball from anywhere on the pitch.
This tactic worked with back row and man of the match Owen Blackburn prominent in several of the moves that delivered try scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, at key moments and with Guisborough on the ropes, Aspatria were wasteful and failed to punish the visitors.
It all changed again with five minutes remaining when Alex Barton operating on the left wing got the better of the covering defence and squeezed in at the corner flag for try number 3.
Jack Clegg’s touchline conversion added a vital two points to bring the deficit to 19-24 and give Aspatria the chance of an unlikely win.
Those last few minutes must have seemed like hours for Guisborough. Aspatria continued to attack but from somewhere the visitors dredged up enough defensive resilience to withstand the final assault and move their focus to celebrating a vital win.
