Armistice Day Rememberance

However, the West supporters who had travelled across the A66 would have been delighted with the First XV's final score after witnessing the first five minutes. Aspatria’s kick off was knocked on and from the scrum the ball was whipped out to the right where centre Matt Irving was able to touchdown in the corner.

He missed the conversion, but was on target only a minute later. From the restart Aspatria made progress into the West half where centre Ryan Scott put in a  a grubber kick to the corner with Irving beating Lewis Scott to the touchdown.

West were 12-0 without hardly touching the ball. It looked to be in for an ominous afternoon as the giant home pack were shunting their opponents backwards in the scrums.

Fortunately, West’s line-out was operating better with West’s Man of the Match Jake Linighan taking clean ball as a penalty was kicked to the corner. The West forwards mauled their way to the line giving skipper Ryan Painter the opportunity to send in in a long pass to brother Jordan who gathered to dive over in the corner - taking the score to 12-5.

The try seemed to settle West who began to move the ball around intelligently, but it was Aspatria who added to their score. Jay Corbett was penalised for a high tackle and once again the kick to the corner paid dividends. The line-out ball was taken and moved quickly along the backs where winger Zak Olstrom had an easy finish. Back came West to score the fifth try of the game with less than 25 minutes gone. Fly Half Ollie Connolly made the break which had the home defence on the backfoot. Good support play allowing hooker Aidan Jackson-Smith to find Ryan Painter on the charge (right)  with Southern again just wide from the conversion. The Brinkburn side were now giving as good as they got and were unlucky not to score again in the closing minutes of the half. Prop Liam Pennick was held up over the line and then Jay Corbett knocked on as he was tackled as he tried to force his way over.

It was 19-10 at the break,  but Aspatria wasted little time in restoring their two-score lead. Again, it came from a line-out on the left wing which saw Olstrom going over in the opposite corner- just too wide for the conversion.

Undaunted West began to get some parity in the scrum. Pressure on the home line forcing fly half-Clegg to kill the ball and earn himself a ten-minute rest and open the yellow card floodgates for his side.

West took advantage with Jay Corbett almost going over from close range,  however when the ball was recycled brother Will spun the ball out to Matt Siddle. He in turn found follow centre Chris Atkins who crashed over with Southern adding the extras.

Aspatria were then reduced to 13 men and West to 14. A late tackle on Matt Siddle saw Irving sent to the bin together with Siddle who had reacted to the clash of heads.

The home side then increased their lead ten points with a penalty before West  attacked  the home  line in the final ten minutes. It led to a series of yellow cards for Aspatria as their defence became increasingly stretched. Replacement Lewis Barwise being the first to go for coming in at the side.

The penalty count continued to rise as the desperate measures were used to stop the West pack from crossing and, on the fourth blow of his whistle, referee Martin Maughan had had enough and awarded West a penalty try. Prop Jack Gaskell was the guilty man and off to join the growing numbers on the sideline.

He was then joined by No.8 Matt Atkinson as West went for a try which would have given them the win which had looked so very unlikely 75 minutes earlier.  They were awarded yet another penalty some 30 metres out and to the right of the posts. It was kickable,  and three points would have earned a draw,  but with Aspatria down to 12 the decision was to go for the win with the kick to the corner.

Linighan again took good ball and when the ball was moved to the oposite wing Jordan Painter looked like he might go over. Unfortunately, the ball was ripped in the tackle and the chance was lost . The final whistle being blown  much to the relief of the Cumbrian faithful.

There were lots of positives for West who continue to pick up points from every game as they adjust to life after promotion. Next up are Northern – the third side so far this season who will arrive at Brinkburn in second place.

Aspatria: Luke Johnson, Zac Olstrom, Matthew Irving, Ryan Scott, Tom Gardner, Jack Clegg, Alex Barton, Arran Sullivan, Adam Cavanagh, Jack Gaskell, Chris Graham, Riley Thwaites, Harry Royle, Philip Dixon, Matt Atkinson.

Reps (all used): James Ravell, James Lightfoot, Lewis Barwise.

Tries: Olstrom (2),  Irving (2).

Cons: Irving (2)

Pen: Irving.

Yellow: Clegg, Irving, Barwise, Gaskell, Atkinson.

West: Zac Southern, Lewis Scott, Matt Siddle, Chris Atkins, Jordan Painter, Ollie Connolly , Ryan Painter (capt), Adam Hutchinson, Aidan Jackson-Smith, Liam Pennick, Jake Linighan, Ollie Webster, Isaac Robinson, Connor McLurg, Jay Corbett.

Reps (all used): Will Corbett, Jack Angus, Jonny Wray.

Tries: Jordan Painter, Ryan Painter, Atkins, penalty try.

Con: Southern .

Yellow: Siddle.

Referee: Martin Maughan (Cumbria Society)