BOLTON were brought back down to Earth with a bump in their second match of the season as they failed to match the aggression and clinical edge of Aspatria.

The Cherry and Whites had taken full marks in their opening game, a bonus-point victory at home to Hawcoat Park, but were second-best on Saturday as their Cumbrian hosts touched down twice in each half to run out convincing 24-8 winners.

Jack Robinson's try – his fourth of the campaign – came after a good break by Danny Joseph but that was scored with five minutes to go, Sam Fogg's first-half penalty their only other score of the day, and Bolton will have to contend without Robinson after this Saturday as he will be heading for university.

Captain Rhys Pritchard, one of Bolton's few leading lights in a disappointing away-day, admits Aspatria – who at one stage were down to 13 men – showed greater determination to win the day and his side must learn from their errors.

"They wanted it a lot more than us and it showed," he said. "Aspatria were very aggressive and clinical when they created chances. We had a few chances but just didn't make the most of them.

"It was a mix of poor decision making on our part and desire shown by them. Even when they had a couple of men sent off, both for high tackles, it came down to them wanting it more than us.

"We were too passive, we went into half time 14-3 down but after an altercation just before the break Aspatria used it as motivation when they came out, they were fired up and we couldn't find an answer."

The teams will face off once again in a few weeks' time as they have been drawn together in the Intermediate Cup, a fixture that will see Bolton make the journey north to Wigton once again.

Their skipper hopes when the Cherry and Whites get a second bite they will still be smarting from Saturday's loss and remember where they went wrong in order to book a place in the next round.

But before they can think about that cup match Bolton will be aiming for another maximum-points win at home tomorrow when bottom side Workington are the visitors.

The Zebras won promotion back to the North Lancs/Cumbria League last season but have yet to register a point this term. They opened with a 37-10 loss at Trafford Metrovicks but after their 55-0 defeat at home to Fleetwood they sit bottom of the table and are yet to register a point.

"We've got a chance to make up for the Aspatria game in a few weeks," said Pritchard. "We'll be out to give a better show and we'll know what we should and shouldn't do this time.

"But we won't look beyond Workington, they are a decent team and they had a decent season last time but there is a chance they could become the division's whipping boys. Everyone gets them – we were in that position a few seasons ago – so we won't be disrespecting them, we need to be ruthless.

"They will be after their first win and we won't take them lightly."