Match Preview

This is it. The culmination of a long and successful season. In remaining unbeaten at Malone Field this term, Saints now face Cumbrian side, Aspatria, who were second in the North Lancs/Cumbria league behind De La Salle, having won 19 of their 26 games.

In our first year in North One West in 2011-12, we finished tenth and Aspatria were relegated. We gained a creditable draw, 14-14, away in October 2010 and beat them at home in March 2011, 44-17. Since then, they have been consistently third or fourth in North Lancs/Cumbria, until they achieved second place this season.
The only other meeting between the sides was at Eastham in December 2016 in the National Intermediate Cup for Level 7 clubs. We lost 22-33.

Rugby union has a long history in Aspatria, with Aspatria RUFC being formed in 1875. They have a distinguished heritage and can boast a 1924 British Lion.

Bower Park, their home ground, is set in the shadow of Skiddaw, the sixth-highest mountain in England and the fourth highest in the Lake District. “The Black Reds” 1st team pitch is reckoned to be the best in the county, largely due to the work of their dedicated volunteer ground staff, similar to our own “Last of The Summer Wine” boys.

Regardless of the result, Anselmians will finish the 2017-18 campaign immensely proud of their efforts. It would be fitting, as Saints bid farewell to Malone Field for a season, if they extended their unbeaten home record, but, whoever wins, will guarantee an enjoyable adventure in North One West.