Crocs battled hard for long periods but they faded after the break and ended the game well beaten as a powerful home side took control.

The visitors had started reasonably well, enjoying long periods of possession and territory, and good work from James Wainwright down the right led to some good interplay which almost yielded a score.

The home side halted the attack but soon after Crocs were rewarded for a series of good attacking scrums and decent phases of play when they earned a straightforward penalty which Joel Hinchliffe converted.

However, this was to prove to be the only real highlight of a frustrating afternoon as the away side seemed to run out of steam as the match progressed.

That fact was highlighted as the home side exploited the lack of a Crossleyans chase of a clearance kick, moving the ball quickly and setting up right wing Tinnion to cross under the posts.

The cause was not helped when Luke Smith was then harshly yellow carded for an innocuous looking offence, the resulting penalty taking it to 10-3.

Things got worse before the break as Aspatria again countered well from a defensive kick as a clever kick in behind the defence enabled left wing Dean Scholey to score out wide from what looked to be a possibly offside position.

Crossleyans rallied strongly just before the break but the home side's dogged defence kept them out.

After the break, young Aussie Trent Beaver replaced the injured Smith and the debut man brought some energy and enthusiasm back into the Crocs play, but by now the home side were getting the upperhand and they extended their lead when a flowing 15 man move led to hooker McDowell scoring out wide.

By now Crossleyans were struggling to retain the ball, but were not helped by some questionable interpretations of the tackle area by the referee, one of which led to a home penalty which was succesfully converted.

Rob Oliver's introduction pepped up Crocs but Aspatria ended any comeback hopes with a deserved fourth try.

The scoring was completed by a penalty try in the closing seconds, the awarding of which appeared very harsh, but there was no doubt the home side deserved their win.