DOWN NOT OUT : THE STORY OF SEASON 2011/12
The 2011-12 season commenced on a wave of renewed enthusiasm for the game. Aspatria marched into N1W, promoted as champions of North Lancashire and Cumbria and on the back of an unbeaten league run of 15 games.
Bower Park is full of realists who recognised that the challenge ahead would be a tough, rocky road. We had after all just witnessed a competent Wigton outfit struggling to retain their status in N1W and we were about to join the fray. The mood remained positive as we lined up Carlisle in a pre season Cumbria Cup clash. Preston had signed from Penrith, Park from Kendal and one time wonder kid Dan Rayson was returning to The Bower. Overall thinking? We were not expecting to win the league but would be good enough to avoid the drop. After all you only need 3 worse sides than yourselves to stay safe.
A lack lustre display against Carlisle and the Black Reds crashed out of the cup at the first hurdle; undone by the pace of a Castors attack that was ready for business. Failure was explained by early season rust and attention turned to the opening game of the league campaign against Liverpool St Helens. LSH were one of a handful of teams expected to contest the league championship. Old heads around the club thought they would know a lot more of the Black Reds prospects when the game was over.
LSH took the honours on opening day with a 16:28 win. Aspatria did well enough, in truth they might have won. Given the quality of the opposition there was little complaint but two factors emerged almost unnoticed. Firstly, early defensive lapses allowed the opposition a platform and to get early points on the board. Secondly, Aspatria failed to turn excellent field position into points. These factors would dog Aspatria home and away for the rest of the season.
The second game in was an away trip to Wirral and a third factor emerged. Aspatria, due to player unavailability, would not be able to get their best 15 on the bus for long away trips. A price would be paid for this with the Black Reds unable to register an away win until the final attempt in April. Wirral had a field day and inflicted the Black Reds worst defeat of the season 70:29. Almost, as an after thought it was noted that the visitors had notched up 4 tries to secure a first bonus point of the season.
If there was no great concern at the start of September the situation had changed dramatically as we entered October on the back of 4 straight defeats. The visitors on October 1st were Northwich; another major contender for the championship. The good news was that Mark Beverley was back and the team looked about as strong as we could field. This was bad news for Northwich who started the game heavy favourites only to go down 20:18.
Were Aspatria off and running? Sadly no; the following week an almost full strength side travelled to lowly Wilmslow and lost; perhaps the most disappointing result of the season. The Black Reds were forced to acknowledge they were in the thick of the relegation battle. A further two defeats followed prior to Anselmians visiting Bower Park to end October and mark the end of the first third of the season. The game was impacted by high winds and a draw was a fair result but one that pinned both teams in the relegation zone. As November arrived 6 points covered the bottom 5 teams. Our concerns continued but the fight went on.
There was no great optimism at Aspatria as the winter months arrived. Park had returned to Kendal, David Humes was unavailable for the residual of the season, Dan Rayson returned to his rugby league roots. The picture was not looking good. There were few bright spots on the playing front. Two former Colts, James Ravell and Adam Birkett were turning in immense performances. Ravell would go on to deservedly be crowned players player for the season but we were shortly to lose Birkett to a career in the Armed Forces.
Everyone who watch’s the Black Reds knows the influence of Mark Beverley but unfortunately his work and family commitments prevented regular appearances. This and Lawrence Brown’s work pattern meant that from November onwards the Black Reds would only rarely field a recognised back row. This was not the only reason for failure but it contributed significantly to the 3 defeats during the month and others beyond. None more disappointing than the November home defeat at the hands of Carlisle. This was one of those games that could and should have gone the way of the Black Reds. The defeat anchored Aspatria to the bottom of the league, sadly detached from the teams above.
Perhaps, some supporters, based on the evidence had resigned themselves to relegation but the playing squad never did. Each game I witnessed was fought hard and to the best of the abilities that the team selected possessed. There was no better example of this than our last home fixture of 2011 v Wirral. 10th December, David Allen Day at the club and as a reward for his support the best performance of the season as the Black Reds took the honours against the same Wirral team who had previously posted 70 points against them in September. In a season of limited highlights the Black Red were now about to play some of their best rugby but old frailties would limit the rewards.
Next up for Aspatria? Old rivals Wigton at Lowmoor Road. Back to back wins would put Aspatria back in with a shout of survival. What transpired was one of the most frustrating games of rugby I have seen. Aspatria were down an out within 20 minutes of the game commencing. Then proceeded to dominate the remaining 60 minutes but simply could not close out opportunity after opportunity to run away with game and those precious points.
Aspatria started 2012 at the bottom of the league but results in January would give renewed hope of a revival. High flying Broughton Park visited The Bower on 7th January. BP had lost their star play maker and were entering a period of freefall that would eventually see them relegated. Aspatria won 8:0 and although defeat followed at Northwich, Wilmslow were despatched at home to end January with the team still just in touch. Unfortunately, the Aspatria revival was proving a little late and also coincided with improved form from other threatened sides. So to February and still we prop up the pile.
Due to weather only a single game was played in February; the visit of promotion chasing Widnes. You have heard it before. We could and should have won this encounter. This was a pivotal game; for me the defeat sealed the fate of the club and there was to be no grandstand finish. Four further defeats followed. Aspatria remained competitive at home but were shipping points on their travels. Other than mathematically we were relegated.
Our last away game at Carlisle was not a particularly enticing prospect but few who were at Warwick Road will ever forget the events of 31st March. Unfortunately, the rugby, which should have come first as Aspatria registered a well deserved 23:19 victory, was usurped by off field events. I make no further comment on these events as I am sure everyone is by now well aware of what transpired. Nevertheless the result allowed Aspatria to finish the season; relegated yes but with pride intact.
I have mentioned only a handful of players by name. If space allowed I would have described at length some of the brilliant individual performances seen both home and away. And some of the un-selfless acts of those associated with the club that despite the final outcome added up to an enjoyable season.
In closing, my club awards 2011-12. We received superb hospitality on our travels; truly, no black marks. Sandbach was excellent but Vale of Lune outstanding. For sportsmanship I pick out Sandbach again. They were clearly the better team in both our encounters but each time were magnanimous in victory, a quality that ought to be developed in all clubs.