Aspatria Hornets Under-13s finished off a successful 2025 season as they overcame a mighty challenge from Kells in the Top 4 Grand Final yesterday at Maryport RLFC.
A very large crowd was in attendance to witness a proper cup final in which both sides gave their all in a brutal and skilful affair.
Kells were keen to add this trophy to their cabinet to add to the League Champions title and Aspatria determined to complement their League Cup win.
The opening exchanges were typically robust with both teams picking up walking wounded within the first five minutes and then Aspatria lost impressive back-row forward, James Kidd not long after with a nasty concussion.
Both sides were vying for dominance but neither was willing to yield but it was the Hornets who struck first when a nicely worked move from a scrum led to Aiden Nicholson scoring wide out. Hamilton missed with the conversion. 4-0.
The game continued to ebb and flow but Aspatria added to their score when William Beverley muscled over to extend the Aspatria lead. Again, Hamilton missed with the conversion.
This made the half-time score 8-0.
Kells came out firing in the second half and exerted some heavy pressure on the Hornets with their large pack making some inroads into the Aspatria half. Not long after hey narrowed the gap with a nice try of their own but the kick was missed. 8-4.
Then came perhaps the pivotal point in the whole game. Kells looked to be over the line to even up the scores but Ben Notman came up with a fantastic defensive play to dislodge the ball and from the ensuing set, Aspatria went over at the other end of the field to score via Beverley. Hamilton added the goal this time. 14-4.
Kells showed why they are League Champions as they grabbed a try soon after to make the score 14-10 as the conversion was successful.
Aspatria sealed the win when Benji Poland surged over the line to cap a superb performance in the pack and Hamilton added the goal to make the score 20-10 with only five minutes remaining.
Kells played right to the end and scored a try on the final whistle to make the score 20-14 and as referee, Neil Byers blew for full time, Aspatria breathed a sigh of relief.
Man of the match was Aspatria prop Diesel Little.
A note on the match officials – The trio of Byers, Scott and Brown ought to be commended for the way in which they officiated the game.
