Aspatria reckon we have one of the best packs in the league but that is small consolation for another two points lost.

The game had been in doubt because of heavy overnight rain, but there were only a couple of pools of standing water.

We attacked up the slope and into the wind and gave the home side an almighty shock. They were pinned on their line for the first 15 minutes and had to defend for their lives.

Stu Bennett did go over on 4 minutes - charging in from deep - but Davy Tighe delayed his pass too long and the ball to the big No 8 was ever so slightly forward.

The sucker punch came on 10 minutes when we were still camped on their 22. Scrum half Jason Sprires went blindside, galloped away with winger Alex Walton and, after exchanging passes, the no 9 went in under the posts. 7-0.

We came straight back and drove at them in the loose and got our just rewards almost immediately when Carlo Robinson spotted a gap and dived over. Davy Tighe will want to forget his conversion attempt.

We kept it up and went ahead on 20 minutes from an almost identical move. The forwards drove at their opposition and eventually something had to give with Carlo again popping up to add the finishing touch. Davy was closer this time but we were in the lead 7-10.

Aspatria has begun to work out our line-out, and were fially getting some possession without looking dangerous, but did manage to drive a maul over on 35 minutes . This added to a penalty by Steve Stoddart on 29. Suddenly they were ahead 17-10 and we had had most of the play.

The second half was a far more even affair which we shaded on points. Tim Sawyer came on for Stu Bennett and Michael White came on for Mark Baggs who injured his big toe.

We were excellent in the loose but the set pieces were messy from both sides. Aspatria could only add a penalty on 62 while Allan Milne got the try he richly deserves on 70 minutes. We had kicked a penalty into the corner and from the line out the backs spread the play. Milne spottted a gap to go in beside the posts. He had been injured on 10 minutes, and his ankle was black and blue after the game, but played on regardless. Davy converted.

We might have expected a grandstand finish but, on a gluepot of a pitch, both sides were understandably tired and mistakes were frequent.

The most obvious was when Jamie Connolly screwed a clearance and suceeded in hitting ref Paul Candlish full in the face. The unfortunate official was so dazed he couldn't put his whistle to his lips to halt play. Fortunately he made a full recovery.

This was 2 points most definitely lost. We stay five points ahead of poor old Sandal, who apparently failed to fulfil their fixture at Darlington for the second time running, and could well lose more points.