Broughton Park 32 v 19 Aspatria.

24th February 2007

The game did not start too well for the Cumbrian side's aspirations because 'Park rampaged into the Aspatria half and won a lineout from which the ball came out to out-half Simon Verbickas who scored in the corner. Ronan O'Brien just missed the difficult conversion.

Aspatria were soon back in the game when 'Park gave away a penalty to make the score 5 - 3 after 5 minutes. A poor clearance kick by 'Park saw Aspatria run the ball back to get a line out 5 metres from 'Park's line. Aspatria won the ball and their forwards carried over the lock forward Mark Cottam to score a converted try making the score 5 - 10 after 15 minutes.

There were two injury blows for 'Park when big no.8 John Clifford went off with an ankle injury and full back and kicker Ronan O'Brien went off with a similar injury. Aspatria were having most of the pressure and from one bout the Aspatria no.10 Mike Scott attempted a drop goal but this missed relieving the pressure on the 'Park line.

Good work from 'Park unfortunately ended in a penalty for Aspatria for a player hanging on to the ball too long in the tackle. Mike Scott made no mistake with the penalty making the score 5 - 13 after 30 mins.

'Park were pressuring the Aspatria line keeping the ball in hand when a speculative kick ahead lost the ball to Aspatria who came away with the ball and won a line out 5 meters from the 'Park line.

'Park came roaring back and from a good kick by replacement full-back David Sutcliffe 'Park won a lineout. From the lineout 'Park kept the ball for a few phases and Andy Wilson dived over the line but was penalised for a double movement. However, just on half-time 'Park gained a penalty, but stand in kicker Tom Mapp just missed with his attempt. Into injury time 'Park were down to 14 players when a bit of retaliation was spotted and a 'Park player went to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

After 4 minutes of the 2nd half Tom Mapp reduced the arrears with a well taken penalty to bring the scores to 8 - 13, but Aspatria gained some turnover ball and kicked and won the resulting lineout. Their forwards mauled the ball forward and it eventually went to Mike Scott the Aspatria out-half who made amends for his earlier miss by dropping a goal. 8 - 16.

'Park had good possession in their own half but a pass went astray and Mike Rainey in stretching for the ball went down and hung on too long to give away a penalty which Mike Scott put over with ease. 8 - 19.

'Park had a piece of luck when a speculative kick from Simon Verbickas was gathered by himself and the ball was fed along the line for Marlon Miller to score near the corner. Tom Mapp converted making the score 15 - 19 after 24 minutes of the 2nd half.

From good turnover ball 'Park's forwards won the ball and the ball went to Tom Mapp who made a break and fed Marlon Miller who danced around the opposition to score under the posts. Tom Mapp converted making the score 22 - 19.

'Park's forwards were now dominant as Aspatria began to fade. 'Park' forwards mauled the ball to near the Aspatria line and the ball came out to Simon Verbickas who flicked it to Marlon the Marauder, popping up in the centre position, to score his third try with a footballer type Mick Shannon salute. Tom Mapp converted and in the final minutes he also put over a penalty to make the final score 32 - 19.