Aspatria lost their crucial Regional 2 North game at Durham City 30-21 after a second-half rally.
The Cumbrians looked out of the contest at half-time, facing a 20 point deficit.
Durham had scored three tries, with the damage being done by taking full advantage of a rash of penalties.
Quick tap and go moves caught out the Aspatria defence, yielding two of the scores.
Aspatria responded with a try from second rower Matthew Atkinson.
Into the second half but even at 27-7, Aspatria still felt they were in the game, and this proved to be the case as they scored two tries through left winger Dan Weir and number eight Steve Nelson. Jack Clegg converted all three of Aspatria’s tries.
In the second period, Durham were on the ropes, and if Aspatria could have squeezed a few more minutes out of the contest, then the result may have been a lot more favourable.
Aspatria are now back in one of the two relegation play-off places, but the gap between them, Durham City and Guisborough is a solitary point.
Next visitors to Bower Park are Guisborough on February 14, and what a crucial game that is going to be.
