Aspatria looking for that silver lining
Last updated 11:41, Thursday, 24 April 2008
TIME was when Aspatria ruled the roost as far as the Cumbria Cup was concerned.
They won the first one ever in 1883; have won the competition 31 times, more than any other club and hold the record for consecutive victories (six).
From 1977 they won the Cup 14 times in 17 years and were quite clearly the dominant force in Cumbrian rugby.
But the Black Reds have not lifted this particular piece of silverware since 1999 and in the general pecking order across the county Aspatria can be considered to be the third best team in Cumbria.
On Saturday they will take n the best in Kendal, an awesome combination of flair and power who have carried all before them in North One this season, winning all their matches.
They also happen to be the cup holders and will be intent on maintaining their record and picking-up a trophy double.
They apparently turned-on some champagne rugby last Saturday to beat Sheffield Tigers 43-0, and it went with the bubbly which flowed freely after the game when the Mont Bridge side had maintained their 100 per cent record.
Aspatria, meanwhile, were slipping to a 25-10 home defeat to Durham City in the League below Kendal. When they resume next season there will be two Divisions separating the two Cumbrian clubs.
It’s therefore going to be a stiff test for Aspatria in tomorrow’s final at Winters Park, Penrith but is the perfect opportunity to trot out the well-worn clichés favoured by the underdogs throughout sport.
“We’ve nothing to lose. The pressure is all on them. We are going there to enjoy ourselves” – how many times have you heard those.
The key to any Aspatria success could be how friendly they are with Penrith.
A phone call might be particularly informative.
Although the club hosting the final are coming down from North One, after being unsuccessful in their efforts top avoid relegation, they did take Kendal; as close as anybody in the league.
Close to the final whistle Penrith were sitting on a 7-5 lead but three minutes from the end Kendal scored a converted try to win it 14-7.
Mike Scott and Adrian Bateson the joint coaches at Aspatria know the Kendal; set-up well, having both spent happy spells at Mint Bridge, so they will have an inkling of what to expect.
Their knowledge of Kendal, and any clues from Penrith which are passed on ahead of the game, will be key factors for Messrs Scott and Bateson in their efforts to do what nobody else has done this season and beat the Mont Bridge side.
Can I just alert the Cumbrian rugby union fraternity to the fact that the Rugby Football Union is giving everyone involved in English rugby the chance to have their say on the International Rugby Board’s proposal to introduce eight new Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) throughout the game next season.
The RFU believes that some of the ELVs could fundamentally change the nature of the game as it is currently known and that all those potentially affected by their introduction should be consulted.
The RFU is therefore launching a special consultation website _www.rfusurvey.co.uk_ (http://www.rfusurvey.co.uk/) to enable all parts of the game to express their views on the ELVs and whether they should be trialled in the manner proposed.
