While St Benedict’s were booking their place at Twickenham, North Lancs Cumbria title rivals Aspatria were slipping-up at Bolton – beaten 18-15.

Temporarily, Aspatria remain top of the league but with only three games remaining this result ended their ambition to remain in the number one slot. Eventually, the four game fixture backlog of second placed Benny’s will unwind and they will overhaul Aspatria.

A much more realistic goal remains alive for Aspatria, as despite the setback at Bolton they do retain a slight advantage over Saturday’s tormentors in the chase for the league play-off berth and with it an end of season shot at promotion.

For long periods of the game the two sides looked well matched and throughout the full 80 minutes neither could sustain a dominant position as the game ebbed and flowed.

Bolton got the scoreboard moving after six minutes with a penalty from Mike Mills It was not obvious at this point that an ongoing lack of discipline would eventually cost the Black Reds the game.

On 23 minutes Aspatria drew level with a penalty from Jack Clegg and ten minutes later took the lead with a spectacular try.

Bolton were defending in numbers but could. not deal with Ken Bowes as he joined the attack from full-back. His timing was perfect and he broke through several sets of hands clawing at his progress but momentum took him through.

Bowes then hurdled the remaining defender and although clipped in the process managed to retain the ball as he somersaulted over the line to score.

Bolton narrowed the gap on the stroke of half-time when another penalty was awarded and Mills made no mistake.

Bolton started the second period with a fine spell of controlled rugby and eight minutes in this sustained pressure ended with another penalty conceded, putting the home side back in front.

Bolton were in the middle of a good spell and unfortunately, some of Aspatria’s defence was not to the referee’s liking and the game appeared to be moving away from them as Mills punished them on 58 minutes and again on 63 minutes.

Aspatria suffered from two bad injuries. First off was impressive hooker, Ian McDowell with a leg injury. And his replacement, Gary Harrison only lasted a matter of minutes before an accidental collision resulted in a broken nose.

Uncontested scrums resulted. This suited neither side but the loss of two influential forwards at a crucial stage of the game was a hammer blow for Aspatria.

With only three minutes remaining the Black Reds drew level from a scrum near the Bolton line.

There was only one plan; a classic charge by number eight Gary Hodgson from the base of the set-piece that put him over the line. Clegg’s successful conversion brought the scores level.

Then right at the death the most contentious decision of the game settled it in Bolton’s favour. The referee interpreted a seemingly well executed man and ball tackle to be dangerous and awarded the penalty that Mills would use to seal victory for Bolton.

Wigton travelled to De la Salle (Salford) on Saturday with eight changes to the team that lost narrowly to Bolton last week and were unlucky to go down 21-15.

Silloth continue to battle hard to stay in the division and they were helped by a convincing 59-19 home win against Tyldesley.

The Tigers scored eight tries by Jamie Baxter (2), Dan Yeoman, Steven Stoddart, Luke Baker, Jonathan Burnyeat, Lee Tinkler and Greg Wrathall. Stoddart converted them all and also kicked a penalty.

Whitehaven look doomed, however, despite a good performance at home to Fleetwood as they won 40-5.