ASPATRIA...10 pts SEDGLEY PARK...21

CUMBRIA was windy and cold. The pitch was heavy, the afternoon so dark that even the floodlights could not penetrate the gloom.

It was never going to be a pretty game, but it was a good, full-blooded battle, with excitement and skill from start to finish.

The first ten minutes were a nightmare for Sedgley. The kick-off was a deep one and Sedgley dropped it, the start of a period of pressure which almost brought a try for the home number eight, David Humes. Aspatria had to be content with a penalty, kicked by winger Stephen Stoddart.

Sedgley now kicked directly into touch from the re-start and, once again, desperate defence was required. This time the Cumbrians scored a try through lock David Wilson which was converted by Stoddard.

However, on their first visit to Aspatria territory, Sedgley scored. A line-out was won near the line, the ball was moved along the backs, and centre Jon Scales scored wide out on the left.

Sedgley were still making too many mistakes against opponents who fought and competed for every ball.

A crude fly-kick by Rob Moon -- his only mistake in a brilliant display of defensive full-back play -- was intercepted, and Sedgley were indebted to scrum-half Dave McCormack, who made the saving tackle.

At this stage, Colin Stephens was keeping the visitors in the game with some superb kicking out of hand, as Sedgley struggled to contain a fired-up pack of forwards.

After 30 minutes, Sedgley drew level. From a five-metre scrum, Moon's pass put Mike Wilcock over in the corner. Moments later, Wilcock was on hand to save Sedgley's line following a break by the impressive Humes. Stephens then landed a 45-metre penalty to put his side in the lead before half-time. Two minutes into the second half, Sedgley scored a fine try. Aspatria unwisely tried to intercept a pass, creating a gap which Scales exploited decisively.

He was closed down following a run of 40 metres, but Wilcock was at his elbow and he in turn found fellow wing Paul Morris, who scored between the posts. Incredibly, Stephens missed the conversion, but 18-10 was a useful lead.

The next 20 minutes belonged to Sedgley, whose pack was now getting on top. Play was confined mainly to Aspatria territory and more tries might have been forthcoming but for some uncharacteristic line-out problems.

A lovely break by Stephens went unrewarded, but the same player increased Sedgley's lead with a dropped goal, the final score of the match.

Aspatria had kicked away a lot of possession during the game, but now they trusted their backs for the first time and Sedgley had to defend for minutes on end.

This was done with admirable discipline before a last minute break-out took play to the other end where McCormack came within a whisker of scoring.

TEAM: R. Moon, M. Wilcock, J. Scales, S. O'Hare, P. Morris, C. Stephens, D. McCormack, M. Alcock, S. Byford, G. Roberts, A. Kimmins, C. Raducanu (c), R. Senior, K. Yates, T. Fourie. Subs: C. Kinsey, A. Losty, D. Hartley.

A few miles along the Carlisle Road, Sedgley II XV were playing Wigton, a game they won with some comfort, 88-0.

Sedgley's high-flying II XV provide the entertainment at Park Lane this Saturday when Kendal are the visitors for a league game. The First are away to Tynedale.