In a mad few minutes approaching half-time, Aspatria threw away an opportunity to win only their second game of the season. Two home players were sin binned within a minute; down to 13 men, Aspatria conceded converted tries on the last play of the half and immediately on the restart.
The home side have put in some poor performances this season but this was not one of them. Promotion chasing, Liverpool St Helens came into the game as strong favourites but for long tracts of the game were outplayed by a committed Black Red outfit.
The game was played in wild, blustery conditions that assisted and hindered both sides throughout. Aspatria started strongly, dominating the early exchanges. Strong runs by number 8, David Humes and fellow back row, Mark Beverley caused LSH huge problems. Within the first 10 minutes the Black Reds had two clear opportunities to go ahead. Live wire centre, Stephen Douglas was unlucky not to open the scoring when, following a kick through from the visitors 22 he won the foot race to the line, only to knock on with the line beckoning. On 20 minutes the Black Reds finally converted superior field positions into points. Beverley chased up a seemingly harmless kick into the opposition half and was rewarded when the visiting fullback fumbled the clearance under his pressure. Beverley’s intervention allowed the cavalry to arrive in the shape of stand-off, Steven Stoddart. Stoddart hacked the ball forward and chased his own kick to the line to touch down. He then completed the move by converting from the touchline.
Immediately from the restart, LSH moved into home territory and benefited from a penalty knocked over by Greg Smith. In a tit for tat response, Aspatria regained the ball from the restart. An attacking scrum was awarded on the LSH 22. Aspatria’s pack won the ball and moved it to Stoddart who wrong footed the defence with a clever cross kick back towards the wing. This was a pre planned move; full back Lee Tinnion was already steaming up the flank, he regathered the ball to for Aspatria’s second try. The score was unconverted but Aspatria now possessed a handy 12:3 advantage and looked comfortable.
LSH proved to be a resilient side and as the half moved passed the 25 minute mark had, what was easily their best spell of the game. Smith dragged the score line back with a penalty and on 30 minutes they finally broke through a dogged Aspatria defence. From a lineout, 10 meters out from the Aspatria line, the visitor’s slick back line moved the ball wide. The backs held play up on the Aspatria line, providing a platform for the arriving forwards to maul the ball over. Second rower, Alan Chadwick emerged triumphant from a melee of players to narrow the home side’s advantage to a single point.
Having seemed in control for most of the match, Aspatria will rue what happened in the final minutes of the half. Manchester based referee, Andy Rawson had become frustrated by a succession of offences from both sides, whom he duly warned. Aspatria did not heed the warning and with LSH on the attack, David Humes saw yellow for a high tackle. Within seconds of LSH taking the tap penalty, Lee Tinnion was also carded for the same offence. With the home side down to 13 men and LSH camped on their line, a score was inevitable and duly came when Aspatria ran out of defenders, allowing Greg Smith to score under the posts. He converted his own score as the half time whistle blew.
Aspatria started the second half with 13 men. LSH started the second half with a 16:12 advantage. LSH realised that this was the moment to turn the screw. Despite solid defending by every Black Red shirt, LSH increased their lead. Aspatria’s weakened backline was exploited by centre, Dave Cunliffe who had little to do but run in for a converted score. In fact the last score of the game.
On 50 minutes, Aspatria were back to a full compliment of players and again were able to match their opponents in every department. Stoddart used a fickle wind to his advantage sending probing kicks into each corner of the LSH half, testing the visitors defence to the extreme. The most likely source of a home score looked to be the Black Red pack who were magnificent throughout. At regular intervals in the final quarter of the game the forwards held excellent field position but each time the LSH defence held. As the game petered out, LSH had to be admired for their resolve. They seldom missed tackles and on the odd occasion that they did so the cover defence was superb. The visitors took their chances when they presented themselves and outscored the home side by three tries to two. If prizes are awarded for defensive play then LSH just about deserved the 12:23 victory.
For Aspatria there will be disappointment. Not in their performance but how close they came to upsetting a very competent LSH side. The Black Reds will meet less committed teams as this seasons campaign unfolds and have now proved that with a full squad available for selection escaping relegation is a realistic ambition.
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