ASPATRIA moved to second place in the North Lancs Cumbria League after withstanding a late challenge from fellow promotion hopefuls Oldham to hold on and win 18-15.

Oldham travelled to Bower Park also aiming to climb the table and conditions suited their forwards to a tee.

From the first whistle, they showed their intention to use primarily their forwards and the visitors wasted no time taking the lead with a penalty after four minutes.

The 3-0 scoreline was overturned by Aspatria second-row Matthew Atkinson who broke off a maul and ran 25 metres to the Oldham line, barging through the full-back to score.

Jack Clegg missed the conversion but the Black Reds had a two point lead.

In the 18th minute, the home side should have extended their lead as a cross-field kick from Clegg was too powerful for Lee Tinnion with the winger missing the ball by inches.

Oldham were reduced to 14 men after a sin-bin but Aspatria were unable to break through the defensive wall.

Aspatria were being worn down by Oldham’s pack but they took their 5-3 lead into half-time.

Shortly after the restart, Aspatria lost Mark Beverley to the sin-bin and the Black Reds managed to hold on in the 10 minutes the forward was off the field. 

When he returned, it looked as though Aspatria had escaped unscathed after being awarded a scrum on their five metre line.

However, they botched the set piece and the ball flew out the side of the scrum and over the try line and Oldham reacted first to the loose ball.

The conversion was missed but the visitors led 8-5. Clegg converted a penalty on 66 minutes to level the scores and he then put Aspatria ahead six minutes from time with a drop goal.

From the restart Aspatria conceded a penalty in front of their posts but Oldham missed the opportunity to level and Andrew Miller kicked a deep clearance kick.

Oldham’s return kick was against the wind and it fell into the arms of full-back Ken Bowes who wrong-footed the defence and had a clear run to the line to score and Clegg’s conversion put daylight between the two sides at 18-8 with just minutes left.

Aspatria gifted Oldham possession from the restart and the pack mauled towards the Black Reds’ line for the try.

The conversion was good and the referee deemed there was enough time remaining to restart the game.

Oldham took possession in their own 22 from the restart and through 30 phases they worked the ball closer to Aspatria’s line. With just one metre to go, the Lancashire side knocked on and Aspatria just held on to move up the table with their hard-fought victory.