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Black Reds Back In Contention

Tuesday, 29 January 2008

ASPATRIA are right back in the hunt for promotion from North Two East. For while they were becoming the first team to beat leaders West Hartlepool on Saturday second-placed Durham City were going down 27-10 at Driffield. The Black Reds now trail Durham by two points and Driffield only on point’s differential, but both teams have to visit Bower Park. Aspatria had felt themselves hard done to in the game at West Hartlepool when they were beaten by a penalty from the final kick of the game. They got their revenge with a 16-5 victory to answer chairman of rugby Mark Richardson’s pre-match demand – “this is one we can’t afford to lose.” Richardson said: “We asked the players a few questions beforehand and I’m pleased to say they answered us very positively. “Our performance, particularly in the first-half, was as good as we’ve seen for a long time. It was very pleasing. “But the players will be told that result will mean nothing if we go and undo it by losing at York on Saturday when they are next to bottom.” Aspatria got off to a flying start with a converted try inside 90 seconds. From a line-out the forwards put in a very strong and aggressive driving maul. Mark Beverley was brought down half a metre short of the line but had the foresight to pop-up a pass to the supporting Gary Hodgson and he crashed over. Mike Scott added the conversion. Hodgson went on and put in an outstanding shift in the back-row as Aspatria took on the powerful West Hartlepool pack. It got feisty at times, however, and after 20 minutes the visitors had their centre red-carded for kicking after a bust-up. Aspatria’s Lee Tinnion went to the sin-bin for ten minutes. Scott subsequently kicked a penalty and he rounded-off an excellent first-half for the home side by landing his second penalty before the break. In the second-half Aspatria had Hodgson sin-binned along with the West Hartlepool flanker and while they were out of the action the visitors reduced the arrears with an unconverted try. They had more possession than in the first-half and were able to put Aspatria under pressure but the Black Reds defended very well. Gradually they regained the upper-hand and Scott gave them more breathing space when he kicked his third penalty ten minutes from time. The win might have lifted Aspatria back into promotion contention, but they still have some tough away matches to come which could determine the final outcome. Bookmark with: what are these?

 

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