The final league game of 2025 ended in disappointment for Aspatria as the concession of two late penalties floored the home side and handed Morpeth a hard-fought 25-20 win.
Aspatria badly needed a home success to build on last Saturday’s heroics at Keswick and demonstrate that they are capable of moving away from the relegation zone.
It was not to be, and although it was a game that could have gone either way, Aspatria continue to occupy one of the play-off places in a post season game that will determine the second relegation spot.
The first looks likely to fall to neighbours Wigton, who are improving as the season progresses, but are without a win and already look as if they have too much ground to make up on the clubs ahead of them.
Aspatria made a dream start to the game with their first attack of the day.
A scrum penalty was won just outside the 22, but the referee allowed play to continue and the home side took full advantage of a poorly defended left flank to attack the line, where winger Sam Blair squeezed in for a 5-0 lead.
In the early stages of the game, Aspatria appeared to have complete control of the set scrum. This continued for most of the game, with Morpeth regularly being shunted off the ball and on several occasions losing possession.
Yet, when the visitors picked up what might be described as scrappy ball, their back division looked an efficient unit with more than ample pace to trouble Aspatria.
First, Morpeth closed the gap with a penalty from distance and, on 22 minutes, stunned home supporters by taking the lead against the run of play, courtesy of the back division.
There were howls of protest from Aspatria supporters who were adamant that an earlier knock on in the move should have been penalised and perhaps even a following forward pass. However, the referee was in a good position to judge both, and the try was awarded and then converted.
A setback for Aspatria, but at this stage, they still looked the more likely to go on and win the game.
Most of the action was now in Morpeth territory, and it looked only a question of time before Aspatria would engineer a breakthrough.
This came on 30 minutes with a score set up by a solid run from number eight Steve Nelson, who engaged the defence before unloading to onrushing Blair, who in turn had full-back Mark Watson on his shoulder to go over.
The conversion was missed, but at half-time, a10-all score line should have provided Aspatria with the confidence to kick on and grab the points.
It went wrong from the outset of the second period, with Aspatria conceding an early penalty in front of the sticks and the subsequent kick to make it 13-10 for Morpeth provided enough encouragement to lift the spirits of the visitors.
Only a couple of minutes later, an Aspatria attack that promised much, disintegrated in the Morpeth 22.
Morpeth did not hang around and quickly moved the ball back, deep into Aspatria territory, where yet another kickable penalty was conceded.
Only five minutes of the half played, and Aspatria were now forced to chase a 16-20 deficit.
Frustration was evident in the home ranks, and this boiled over at 50 minutes. Aspatria appeared to have been awarded a penalty just inside their own half, but words were spoken, and the penalty was reversed.
The distance was probably around the range of the Morpeth kicker, but when more views were exchanged, a further ten metres were conceded, and the penalty conversion was made so much easier.
At 19-10 Morpeth now held a significant advantage to cling to. Aspatria were in no mood to allow this, and on 56 minutes came back into contention.
A penalty secured a position for a line-out within range of the Morpeth try line. The ball was well controlled, and Aspatria developed several phases of pick and go. It proved too much for Morpeth with prop Josh Holmes going over for a converted try.
Morpeth were now not quite hanging on, but finding it more difficult to get any quality ball for their backs to use.
On 65 minutes, Aspatria’s prospects improved further when Morpeth went down to 14 men. Aspatria were on top again, and a penalty from Jack Clegg secured a 20-19 lead.
Aspatria continued to hold the advantage into the final five minutes, but Morpeth were far from done and began to establish positions in the home half.
The home side held them up well until a misjudged tackle brought down the house of cards, and once again a penalty in front of the posts handed back the lead to Morpeth at 22-20.
There was time to re-start, but Aspatria were forced to begin a push up-field from deep in their half. It was desperate stuff as they searched for a gap.
They were trapped by Morpeth who put up a wall that Aspatria failed to breach and it seemed almost inevitable that the escape plan would end in poetic fashion with a penalty in front of the posts to end the game.
Aspatria had out-scored Morpeth by three tries to one but were left with the small consolation of a single losing bonus point from a game they could have won.
