Northwich 19 Aspatria 3

NORTHWICH took a first, tentative, step towards Twickenham following a disciplined defensive display on Saturday.

A head-to-head with Blackburn next month will determine which team progresses from Northern Pool One in the RFU Intermediate Cup.

Blacks scored a close contest’s only tries in the second period, but only after resisting near-constant pressure during the first.

Jack Clegg’s early penalty put Aspatria in front, but a three-pointer from Richard Dale restored parity.

The Cumbrians were left to rue handling errors at pivotal moments in three different attacks that may have established for them an interval advantage.

They fell behind for the first time when James Underhill slotted an impressive penalty shortly after half time, a trick he repeated six minutes later to make it 9-3.

Northwich were dominant in the scrum for the remainder, earning a string of penalties close to the visitors’ line.

Aspatria back-rower Tom Lindsay was sent to the sin bin as punishment for his ill-discipline, and from the resulting scrum the home team claimed a first try.

Grayson Thyne, after the away team had been pushed behind their line by a controlled forward-drive, touched down for Northwich.

They extended their advantage further within five minutes, this time when Thyne carried the ball forward after it had fallen loose.

He fed Dorian Simes, who made an incisive break from the wing before releasing Sam Naylor to sprint for the line.

There was no conversion to follow, but Blacks protected the lead in relative comfort for the game’s remainder to record a third successive win in league and cup. 

Northwich Cartman, Tangi, Thompson, Smith, Gavin, Dodd, Collins, Thyne, Gallimore, Underhill, Simes, Dale, Naylor, Houghton, Barber Replacements Watts, Jones, Hulbert Tries Tyne, Naylor Pens Underhill (2), Dale