A first-quarter try blitz earned Aspatria control of the game and, despite a strong fight back from Hawcoat Park, the Black Reds eventually ran out comfortable 46-12 winners.

Only Aspatria and De La Salle remain in serious contention for the North Lancs Cumbria play-off spot and it now looks as if the clash between the teams on April 1 at Bower Park will decide the issue.

A blistering opening from Aspatria proved too much for a Hawcoat Park side weakened by player unavailability.

The scoring opened on five minutes with a poor clearing kick landing in the hands of Matthew Atkinson.

The number eight charged through the first line of defence before releasing the ball wide right, where centre Scott Akehurst took over and galloped unopposed into the corner.

Then, a speculative penalty attempt by Hawcoat Park missed and following the 22 drop out, Aspatria regained possession at a midfield line-out.

Smart work off the back of the line by Jono Burnyeat took Aspatria deep into the home 22 and, when the ball was worked to Akehurst, he again romped in at the right corner flag.

The strong-running of Burnyeat and Atkinson supported by the second row duo, Richard Miller and Liam Ridley, looked unstoppable. Thoughts this might turn into an embarrassing score line for Park began to look a reality.

On 19 minutes, the visitors added a third try to be immediately followed by a fourth to secure the bonus point.

Both followed the same pattern as their predecessors with the touch downs coming in the far right corner, the first by Akehurst and the second by right wing, Grant Bethwaite.

Following the fourth try, Park suddenly burst into life with an intensity that shook Aspatria rigid.

The catalyst for the revolution was a well-disciplined march over the Aspatria line by the home pack. The breakthrough came on 29 minutes and, although unconverted, the try lit the blue touch paper and the fireworks commenced.

For the final 10 minutes of the half, Hawcoat Park hammered Aspatria.

Confidence returned to the extent that on 38 minutes an easy penalty was turned down in favour of going to the corner to mount another forward-led assault on the Aspatria line.

Penalties followed and Aspatria lost back row man Gary Hodgson to the bin.

Aspatria’s defence held but only just and they were delighted to regain the ball and punt out of play to end the half without further damage to their lead.

The break came at the right time for Aspatria and allowed them to recover composure and start the second period with a flourish.

After three minutes, prop James Ravell crashed over the home try line but was held up.

A five-metre scrum followed and, although messy Aspatria were at least moving to the line, when the ball emerged.

Left winger Jack Robinson had moved infield, looking for work and he seized on the loose ball and bullocked over the line. Clegg landed his first conversion.

A series of poor decisions resulted in a string of penalties which allowed Hawcoat Park to move into some dangerous positions near the line.

The reward came on 53 minutes when Aspatria simply ran out of defenders and the lead was down to 27-12.

For the next 15 minutes, they constantly tested the Aspatria defence. The defence was stretched in all directions but it held.

The sound defence paved the way for a final ten minutes which fully highlighted why Aspatria are the league’s top scoring side by some distance.

Starting on 71 minutes, the Black Reds rattled in three scores.

The first was a fine effort by the forwards who wrestled possession away from Hawcoat Park around the halfway mark.

Hodgson galloped the first 30 metres towards the line before Ridley took over. Ridley found Atkinson in close support and the big man crashed over.

Minutes later, the Aspatria back division got in on the act.

Fine work by full-back Andrew Miller and winger Grant Bethwaite opened up the home defence but it was left to stand off Clegg to glide through the gap created on the 22-metre line and dart over.

Hawcoat Park were now out on their feet and this provided scrum-half Jason Ward with all the incentive he needed to arch around a series of flailing arms to go in under the posts.

Down at the bottom, there’s no change although it’s Upper Eden who have the best chance of escaping after they beat Workington 41-8.

That win was tempered by the news fourth-bottom Trafford had won 41-30 at Fleetwood.

Silloth were also disappointed to go down 26-0 at home to Littleborough.

They and Workington are 15 and 16 points respectively away from safety and look doomed for returns to the Cumbria League.