The vagaries of the weather and the fixture schedule meant our first home game of 2025 was played in February. It was worth the wait though as Carlisle outplayed Aspatria for the bonus point win, whilst the visitors left with nothing.

Carlisle kicked off and squandered the opportunity for territory giving Aspatria a scrum in the middle of the park. They duly accepted this bonus and for the first 5 minutes were a threat to the home defence. They spurned the chance to allow the forwards some play time deep in Carlisle territory by electing to kick a penalty from just inside half way, but the kick went wide. Gradually their indiscipline, and some gutsy forward play by Carlisle, kept the visitors well within their own half. Eventually after 15mins of play, another penalty allowed Carlisle a 5m lineout on the left,which they worked across the park, Jason Israel giving a flat pass to Freddy Rawling who went through the gap in the visitors defence for Carlisle's first try. Israel added the extras for a 7 point lead. 7-0

Just a few minutes after the restart Aspatria's Clegg had another chance at the sticks, this time a little closer, and made no mistake to reduce the deficit to 7-3

It didn't take Carlisle long to respond. Just a few minutes later, spurning the opportunity for 3 points in front of the post, Israel kicked to the right corner. The catch and drive was stopped by Aspatria, though the referee spotted an infringement. Playing with advantage, Carlisle moved the ball across the park to the left touchline, then back right until Finn Kennedy broke through by the posts, and seemed to grow 2 feet taller as he stretched to place the ball on the line. Israel again added the extras to extend their lead to 14-3.

The visitors did put pressure on Carlisle from the restart, but too often errors simply handed the ball back to Carlisle as Aspatria's penalty count climbed into the stratosphere. Unfortunately Carlisle's lineout was malfunctioning as Aspatria often claimed the ball back but they were unable to capitalise, until Carlisle made an error of their own. An attempted kick from the back of a ruck was charged down by the Aspatria 8 and swiftly recovered, putting the visitors flanker into open space for a try, converted by Clegg, to reduce the deficit to 14-10.
Thats where the scoreline would stay until halftime, despite Aspatria trying hard to find another quick score.

Aspatria had the better of the exchanges in the first 5 minutes of the second half, keeping the Carlisle defence busy. It was Carlisle's penalty count that started to creep up, and Clegg made no mistake from a penalty just outside the 22 to peg the scoreline down to a nervous 1 point difference at 14-13.

Carlisle responded well, again punishing Aspatria indiscipline with a kick for a 5m lineout. Unfortunately Carlisle's lineout was simply not functioning well and another chance of a catch and drive went begging. Still it gave them field position deep in Aspatria territory which they maintained for some time. Euan Forlow was desperately unlucky not to have scored as he rode a high tackle to break through the visitors defence, the game being brought back for a yellow card to Aspatria. Then Matt Tompkins was just held up as finally a lineout catch and drive went to plan and he was driven over, an Aspatria body just getting under him.

Aspatria eventually managed to weather the home side pressure, and drove Carlisle back up the field, camping in the Carlisle 22 but finding no way through. Eventually the inevitable Aspatria infringement happened on Carlisle's 22, and with the Carlisle backs getting set quickly, the ball went wide to Euan Forlow who raced nearly 90metres(probably a 100 later in the bar) sidestepping the last remaining Aspatria defenders to go over for the third try, again converted by Israel. Things were now a more comfortable 21-13

Carlisle stepped up the pressure on Aspatria, who were struggling to get out of their half, as they looked for the bonus point try. But they defended well and with just 13 minutes to go it looked like they'd been given an advantage as Carlisle lost a man to the bin for a high tackle. They squandered it though as another infringement on the halfway line gave Carlisle the chance of a quick tap penalty. Centre Dan Holmes spotted a huge mismatch, leaving Forlow to stroll through the Aspatria defence for his second and Carlisle's bonus point try. 28-13

Aspatria came right back at Carlisle looking to use the extra man advantage and they camped deep inside Carlisle's 22, looking for a way through. Carlisle's defence was strong enough though until they lost another man to the bin with 6 minutes go, Aspatria receiving a penalty try for their efforts. 28-20

It was all about game management for Carlisle now, and from the restart that's exactly what they did. Aspatria just didn't get a sniff of a chance to get within 7 points of Carlisle for a losing bonus point, and it was telling that another Aspatria penalty gave Israel the opportunity to kick the ball dead and finish the game.

A comfortable win in the end for Carlisle, though they made life difficult for themselves at times, and their lineout looked rusty. That's a weapon they've used well this season so hopeful those issues get ironed out during the next 2 weeks, before they go to Keswick on the 15th February. The 5 points puts a significant gap now between themselves and the bottom two clubs, and one more win should see them safely secure their Regional 2 North status for next season, barring any intervention by the RFU.