Many refs would have given only a yellow but there was no arguing that Chocky had spoilt another excellent game by taking their scrum half out with a swing of his leg.

Aspatria were awarded a penalty try as they pressed, but we hung on for the win thanks to Davt Tighe's five superb penalties.

The visitors had the benefit of the strengthening breeze in the first half, and pinned us back in the first ten minutes, but only had two penalties from Steve Stoddart to show for it.

We defended well and worked our way into the game with the game with the reward of a 26th minute penalty almost in front of the posts. Davy Tighe surprised most of the crowd by stepping up to take the kick ... and he well and truly leathered it between the posts.

Our pack was gradually getting on top in a hard battle with Aspatria showing the signs of indiscipline which referree Ged Stone was making it quite clear would be penalised. There has rarely been a game with so many extra ten yards awarded for talking back.

He also sin binned Aspatria second row David Wilson on 32 minutes for killing the ball.

With the Cumbrians down to 14 men we finished off one rolling maul with Tim Sawyer emerging from a pile of bodies, over the try line with the ball, but the referee had already called another scrum.

And so it was well deserved when we finally went in front courtesy of a bit of opportunism from Darren Thomas. He took a tap penalty to dive between two defenders - Davy missed this one.

He did get a second penalty just before the break to make it 11-6 and the promise of the breeze at our backs in the second half.

Tighe certainly relished the wind at his shoulder. Aspatria's discipline really deserted them and he capitalised sending over three penalties in the first 12 minutes - two of them from way out - where has he been keeping this talent?

Those successful kicks put some confidence into the side, and with Jamie Connolly playing outside Allan Milne, we finally started to get some penetration in the backs. It looked like only a matter of time before we added to our poor try scoring record. But first Carlo Robinson knocked on over the line and then Connolly was held off the ground as he barrelled his way over after a suerb jinking run down the right.

But Aspatria found some new heart and skipper Benson finished off a forwards drive by diving over in the same spot as Darren Thomas in the first half.

The kick was missed and at 20-11 we still looked likely to score again. Then Chocky had his rush of blood to the head. The ref had already blown to bring Steve Wood back after the scrum half had taken a tap penalty, but Chocky scythed him down with a soccer style tackle.

It was by no means the worst bit of foul play in the game, and John Painter has the scars on his head to prove it, but it was right in front of the ref in open play.

We have lost games before because of indiscipline and a sense of deja vu was definitely in the air.

It was compounded when Aspatria were awarded a penalty try on 70 minuites. They were attacking in the corner when the ref ruled we had pulled down a maul. They went for the line out and went again and he ruled we had pulled it down again> He had no hesitation in awarding them the penalty try.

He aqso added an extra 5 minutes after a lot of injuries and it was a very uncomfortable last 15 minutes but we held on reasonably comfortably.

A delighted Stu Bennett said that Aspatria were one of the hardest packs he had played against. But it was he and his forward colleagues who set the platform for the beaming Mr Tighe to bring home the bacon.

Worryingly both Henry Tones and Allan Milne limped off but should be OK for Darlington next week.