Carlisle lost their top-of-the-table clash with De La Salle but still lead the North Lancs Cumbria table by seven points with four games to play.

And it was also a bad day for Aspatria who lost an even tighter contest at Oldham, and they are now four points behind De La Salle.

It’s getting a nervous time for both Cumbrian clubs as they reach the business end of the season.

After their 10-8 defeat by the Salford side, Carlisle’s head coach David Stout said: “As predicted, it was a very close game which, in truth, we should have won given our possession and time spent in their 22.

“To be literally inches short on at least four occasions, but not scoring, was very frustrating.

"Their greater experience, excellent defence and handling of the referee proved decisive. That said the league is still ours to lose, so we’ll be stronger for it.”

James Telford had kicked an early penalty for Carlisle which was cancelled out on 19 minutes by a well-taken drop goal for De La Salle.

The visitors produced some eye-catching running rugby and went in front on 24 minutes with a good try which was converted.

An unconverted try by Josh Holmes three minutes later edged Carlisle closer and it stayed 10-8 until the interval.

How it remained scoreless in the second half was one of the game’s mysteries for Carlisle spent long periods in the ascendancy, both for possession and territory but just couldn’t pierce a watertight De La Salle defence.

It was equally agonising for Aspatria as they lost ground after an 11-10 defeat at Oldham which had looked a tricky contest beforehand.

Nothing seemed to go right for the away side and it was a deserved result for the home side who had led 11-5 at the break.

The game started well enough for the visitors as number eight Gary Hodgson retrieved a loose ball at the back of a retreating scrum to race away from 20 metres out to open the scoring. The simple conversion was missed.

For the remainder of the half, the home side took advantage of some loose defending by Aspatria to kick two well-taken penalties in the 25th and 30th minute to edge in front.

The home side’s only try of the day would shortly follow where the home backs capitalised on a mismatch out wide to sneak over in the corner.

The only points of the second half would come in the 75th minute as Aspatria finally found a bit of space to release centre Scott Akehurst who put winger Lee Tinnion in the clear for a well-taken try.

The conversion 15 metres in from touch was again missed which would prove costly.

Silloth might be heading for the Cumbria League again, but they still enjoyed their best win of the season, 38-15, against one of the early-season title favourites.

Bolton have dropped away in the last few games but still saw the visit to Silloth as a potential five-point win and, although against the run of play, they did open the scoring on six minutes with an unconverted try from their winger.

After 25 minutes of midfield rugby, Silloth slowly started to dominate and Steven Stoddart went over for their first try with the aid of a drive from a powerful home pack.

He converted his own try and five minutes later Silloth extended their lead when winger Ricky Sutcliffe beat three Bolton players to score near the posts. Stoddart converted.

Five minutes before the break, Silloth forced a penalty from the visitors after some great pressure play and Stoddart converted for a 17-5 half-time lead.

Bolton’s coach must have had some harsh words at half time because they came out firing in the second half and, after five minutes, reduced the arrears with a converted try followed soon after by a penalty.

This seemed to stir Silloth into life because they then took over the game.

On 30 minutes, they scored a try from a well-worked maul which centre Joe Kirkup finished off. Stoddart again converted.

Only two minutes later, Kirkup was again on the end of a well-worked move, bursting through the centre to score the bonus point try under the posts. Stoddart again obliged with the kick.

Five minutes from time, scrum-half Kieran Ritchie wrapped up a great display for Silloth when he scored the final try. Stoddart again converted.

That win and Workington’s 76-7 defeat at Littleborough leaves the Zebras bottom again.

Wigton recorded a comfortable 44-10 win over visitors Fleetwood in a typical end of season match for two teams who are neither challenging for promotion nor threatened by relegation.

Wigton’s opening try came after a period of early Fleetwood pressure. From a line-out, they drove to within a couple of metres and flanker Oliver Lewis was able to pick up and reach out for the first try.

Wigton soon doubled their score after Ryan Clark made the key break before putting Arron Henderson in.

Straight from the restart, Wigton caught the ball and reclaimed another Reed box kick. This time, David Hanabury made use of quick ball by putting centre Stephen Harris clear with a fine delayed short pass.

Fleetwood had an opportunity to get on the board with penalty kicks and finally landed one.

Wigton registered their four-try bonus point after Reed made good progress with support runners on either side and was able to go through the gap and score under the posts, before converting.

The next try came from a line-out drive before an accurate pass from Hanabury gave winger Kieran Miller a run for the line, to make it 27-3 at half-time.

Miller was on the scoresheet again shortly after the break but Wigton also picked up a yellow card to Clark for his second high tackle.

In the next few minutes, Hanabury employed a series of delicate chips to open up the defence. He made a break and reached round the defender to hand the ball to Harris for a two-yard charge to the line. Hanabury converted.

Fleetwood now enjoyed their best period of the match and they had their reward when they scored a converted try.

When Wigton finally put together a number of phases, skipper Hanabury marked his 200th appearance by using his footwork to ghost through the defence for the final try.