RUGBY: Anselmians power into North One West

ON another glorious spring afternoon Malone Field was "en fete" for the North One West playoff against Cumbrian side, Aspatria.

Saints' biggest crowd of the season had gathered in the anticipation of Anselmians' winning promotion. Unfortunately, Aspatria had not read the script.

Kicking off, down "the slope" with a slight breeze, Aspatria surprised Anselmians by their power and planning.

A short-side kick caught Saints unawares and Aspatria attacked left and right, showing skill and determination.

Within three minutes, captain Matt Atkinson ended an intense period of Cumbrian pressure by crashing over on the left.

Stand-off, Ryan Scott added the extras and, at 0-7, the crowd was subdued.

More was to follow.

Aspatria, clearly focussed, went through a series of slick moves designed to stretch the Saints' defence.

A clearance by Saints stand-off, Andy Cummings, was run back and Anselmians, while defending well, were creaking.

Penalty followed penalty as the visitors powerful, well-drilled side pressed.

Scott missed a penalty, but, within minutes, number eight Gary Hodgson, bullocked his way close to the posts and Scott added the two points.

Saints were 0-14 down in as many minutes and "Fortress Malone Field" was in danger of losing its proud unbeaten record.

It is a truism that a side can do nothing without the ball.

Saints had seen little of it in the first quarter.

Having withstood considerable pressure, Saints began, through a back row of Nonu, Grabe and the peerless Lamming, to get into the game.

Aspatria were still in the ascendance, but a break by centre Sam Russell hinted at the potential of the home backs.

Another powerful attack by Lamming resulted in a penalty which full-back Iain Taylor, confidently goaled.

Anselmians were on the board, at 3-14, after twenty minutes.

A promising move featuring centre Sadler was stopped by a Cumbrian high tackle and Taylor, ambitious from ten-metre line, boomed over his second score.

Saints were down 6-14, but gaining more possession.

Another break by Sadler and a sublime reverse pass to Tulima Nonu saw the Antipodean scamper 30 yards to score wide out and rouse the hitherto muted home support.

When Taylor kicked the conversion, the gap was one point. 13-14.

Anselmians now woke up.

Their midfield conjured up a superb try started by Russell.

Slick passing involving Charlie Hough and Liam Sadler saw flanker Will Grabe score wide out and when the metronomic Taylor, concerted Anselmians were ahead 20-14 after 20 minutes.

Aspatria looked a little shell-shocked and their grip was loosening.

In denying the visitors possession and attacking with speed, Anselmians were beginning to assert themselves, orchestrated by their influential scrum-half, Harry Southern.

Aspatria were made to feel worse when, right on half-time, second-row Richard Miller, was yellow carded.

A half which had begun so promisingly ended with Aspatria losing 20-14.

Not even the most one-eyed of Anselmians could have scripted what the second half delivered.

Maybe whatever coach McKinney said at the break worked, but this correspondent prefers to think pride in their record and belief in their talents inspired this side to realise their full potential.

James Whitelock-Wainwright, the veteran prop, was a constant nuisance to Aspatria and their effort to stop him and fellow front row, Jack Richards, was allowing Saints to exploit gaps elsewhere.

A break by the front-row released Andy Cummings, who wriggled over near the posts within three minutes of the restart.

Again, Taylor converted and, at 27-14, the Anselmian crowd began to think promotion was possible.

A precise kick by Sadler saw winger Adam Bramhall just fail to gather it as it crept into touch.

Aspatria's pack, so dominant in the first 15 minutes, now conceded to the home forwards and, with more ball came more opportunities.

Harry Southern, having his best, and last, game in an Anselmian shirt for a while, scored a much-merited try, and with Taylor again kicking the extra two points, Saints led 34-14 after eight minutes of the second half.

An Aspatrian on the touchline remarked on the corrosive effects of the scoring, "What's killing us, is the conversions," he remarked.

"Every time we make a mistake, we are punished with seven points, not five.

"It's depressing."

What he thought of a 40-yard Taylor penalty is unrecorded, but the Aspatrian pack visibly wilted, as the home support cheered wildly.

On this hot day, the Cumbrians had started so well, but now mistakes littered their play.

A stalled pass, a knock-on, nothing was going right.

A penalty won, then lost, then won because of backchat to the referee, provided some light relief, but on the hour, saw the best move of the match.

A sweeping move involving Southern, Cummings, Sadler and Hough was clinically finished by unsung hero, Jon Clarke, and, inevitably, Taylor added the bonus points. At 44-14, Anselmian supporters began to entertain thoughts of victory.

Everything Aspatria tried seemed to stutter and their earlier fluency had disappeared.

Conversely, Saints grew in confidence and, when the estimable Niall Cavanagh gleefully picked up a loose ball to score, the game was probably up.

Taylor added his sixth conversion casually, and Saints led 51-14 with seven minutes left.

Al that fire, all that co-ordination had gone.

What began as the most accomplished start was now ending in disaster.

A break-out by Aspatria's backs was promising until Sam Russell intercepted a loose pass and ran away to score at the posts.

Taylor, converted with a drop goal.

In the dying minutes, Andy Cummings danced through for his second try and Taylor, adding the two points to end with a personal tally of 25 points.

At 65-14, Anselmians had won beyond the wildest dreams of their supporters.

To score 65 points without reply is unprecedented and to win the second half, 45-0 is unique.

The score does not do justice the Aspatria's efforts.

The first 15 minutes of the match were the best attacking rugby Malone Field had seen for many a year.

The fact that Anselmians survived, prospered and, ultimately, were promoted in style, is testimony to their quality and a fitting finale to the end of seventy years at Malone Field.

Congratulation to Andy McKinney, his coaches and, above all, the players who have taken us back into North One West.