It wasn’t perfect but Carlisle Rugby Club produced a far better performance than they had the previous week as they beat Anselmians 27-12 in North One West.

Some injury problems after the 10-10 draw at Broughton Park caused a reshuffle with player-coach Matt Shields among those sitting it out.

They were still able to field a very capable side, though, a side that took the game to Anselmians in the first half.

Max Connon opened the scoring after five minutes with a try down the right, which brother Grant converted to settle any nerves.

Carlisle continued to dominate the game for the next 25 minutes with a lot of possession in the visitors’ 22. However, their defence held firm to deny Carlisle any chance of converting that possession into points.

Despite their lowly league position, Anselmians showed they were not there just to make up the numbers.

A penalty gave them the chance for a line-out, deep in Carlisle’s 22, with their first real foray into the home half.

They took full advantage of that possession to drive Carlisle back towards their try-line, and after a number of phases, found a gap out right for an unconverted try on 34 minutes.

Carlisle attacked from the restart and won a penalty 30 metres out, but Connon’s effort just drifted wide and the half ended 7-5.

Carlisle started the second half well, pushing up hard against the visitors, and were rewarded with a penalty in front of the sticks, which Connon converted.

Then, from the restart, Carlisle collected the ball and quickly spread the ball left, with some fine interchange between the Connons putting centre Chris Auld in for Carlisle’s second try.

It wouldn’t be long before Carlisle secured their third on 55 minutes, as a line-out in the visitors’ 22 gave Carlisle the chance to go through the phases. It was lock Jack Freshwater who drove through four defenders to claim the points.

Anselmians were still putting together some free-flowing moves themselves with good combination play in the backs giving Carlisle some real problems in defence, that only some staunch defending was able to thwart.

It was too staunch for the referee’s liking on occasions as he gave new recruit Kyle Lindsay a 10-minute cooling off period on his debut.

Carlisle, however, were able to secure their bonus point three minutes later. As Anselmians attacked up the right, Carlisle managed to turn the ball over. Full-back Max Connon then broke left to halfway, feeding winger Ben Purdham outside him to charge down into the Anselmians 22.

Scrum-half James Telford was in close support and he took a pass from Purdham to dart for the line, only for a tap tackle to stop him five metres short.

Carlisle were up in numbers, though, and driving on towards the try-line, the visitors defence was sucked into defending the ruck, leaving some gaps out right.

Flanker Dan Holmes was stopped short of the posts, but the ball was spun wide for Angus Fulton to drive past the remaining defenders for the bonus-point try.

Anselmians finally managed to convert their pacy attacks into a deserved try on 73 minutes.

But the game was gone by then for them, and Carlisle saw out the rest of the half without much further ado to secure the all-important bonus-point win.

Carlisle are 12 points clear at the top.