Aspatria notched up another win at Bower Park to maintain their 100% home record.
The 31-24 victory over Consett made it three in a row for the Black Reds and constitutes an excellent start to the season.
Yet again supporters, braving some appalling weather, were treated to a game that went down to the wire and had nerves fraying.
A late Consett revival came very close to depriving the home side of a win that looked a formality with only 15 minutes on the clock.
In this opening period, Aspatria registered three tries and took a 19-0 lead.
The first of the scores came from Aspatria’s first attack. The home pack colluded to provide a solid platform for number eight Steve Nelson to drive through the defence and penetrate deep into the 22.
Left winger Dan Weir, had followed Nelson’s run and was in a perfect position to go round his opposite number and score close to the posts.
The second try on 10 minutes owed much to a powerful Aspatria scrum around 20 metres out.
This opened a narrow blindside on the right flank, and scrum half Mark Watson took full advantage to dart through for the try.
From the restart, Aspatria regained possession and only desperate defence from Consett foiled try number three.
Home fans did not have to wait long for the score, and when possession was regathered around half-way, a precise back-line passing move put right winger Shane Cusack on his way up the right touchline.
Cusack still had men to beat, but his pace and guile were just too much, and he evaded attempted tackles to finish up under the posts.
Trailing 19-0 Consett should have been dead and buried, but they demonstrated a resilience which not only kept them in the game but almost laid a path to victory. While all the scoring action had come from Aspatria, Consett retained belief in their cause and gradually came back into contention.
It has to be said that this recovery was constantly assisted by Aspatria giving up a stack of penalties. Indeed, the total penalty count against the home side is an issue that will trouble Andy Brown and his coaching team.
It is not too strong to say that it nearly cost Aspatria the win.
With the first quarter played, Aspatria remained comfortable, but around this time, a yellow card for an illegal tackle deprived them of centre Regan Tinnion and the subsequent penalty placed Consett in a strong attacking position.
It took the visitors a couple of attempts to break the Aspatria defence, but they were eventually rewarded with a try under the sticks to put them on the scoreboard, at 19-7.
Unfortunately, Consett made a complete hash of the restart and immediately handed field position and possession back to the Aspatria pack.
A solid scrum 15 metres out provided attacking options. Fly half Ryan Scott opted to again test the Consett blindside.
It was a complete success as he linked up with Weir, who took the ball over.
This fourth try provided a bonus point for the home side. However, in the closing few minutes of the half, Consett offered up some strong warning signs that this game was not done.
They hammered the Aspatria line but for no reward, and the half-time whistle was much welcomed by home supporters even with a 24-7 lead.
Consett looked a different team in the second half. They now had the better of the weather conditions, although it would not be right to say this was a decisive factor. The recovery owed much more to a change of tactics.
Instead of using the many penalties offered up by Aspatria to go to touch, where line-outs were a lottery, the visitors began to run them in quick-fire tap and go moves which unsettled Aspatria.
Consett’s first tap and go reward came after 46 minutes. This second try reduced the deficit to 12 points.
The game was played hard but in good spirits; however, a lightweight contest between wingers on 50 minutes put Weir and his opposite number in the bin.
Aspatria still retained the upper hand and confidence in a win became more of a reality on 53 minutes. The Aspatria scrum was working well and secured clean ball just inside the 22.
The back line efficiently transferred the ball across to Cusack on the right wing. He had defenders to beat, but once in his stride, he proved unstoppable and dotted down in the corner, seemingly to make Aspatria safe at 31-12.
With the game moving to the final 20 minutes, Consett struck again from a tap and go movement to secure a third try and close the gap.
This signalled a retreat by Aspatria deep into their half, under pressure from Consett.
The visitors’ bonus point fourth score came on 65 minutes, and it dawned on home supporters that, with a score line of 31-24, and most of the possession, the visitors were capable of turning the game on its head.
The minutes seemed to tick at snail’s pace for Aspatria as the home try line came under siege.
With nine minutes remaining, Aspatria went down to 14 when back rower, Charlie Scott, received a yellow card.
Aspatria’s defence was battered time and time again. It was both last-ditch and magnificent. It would be unfair to single out any one Aspatria player as they were all involved in the defence at times, but to miss out the contribution of prop Arran Sullivan would also be negligent.
Sullivan led by example and more than earned the man of the match award.
Consett came within inches, seeking a score to draw level and leave sufficient time to perhaps chase the win.
They would be disappointed, but can take solace in coming close to pulling off one of the best comeback performances seen at Bower Park for many years.
Aspatria played some excellent rugby for long periods of this game, and this proved enough to earn a win. It will be clear to both players and coaches that if that penalty count can be reduced to single figures, they are a team with further potential to be unlocked.
