Last updated at 20:46, Thursday, 09 February 2012

Mike Scott’s indomitable spirit helped to inspire Cumbria to Twickenham glory 15 years ago and turned Aspatria into the biggest force in club rugby in the county.

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Now the stalwart stand-off is relying on the same courage and determination as he tries to stave off the threat of having to bring down the curtain on his playing career.

Rather than hanging up his boots on his own terms, Cockermouth-based Scott fears he may have surrender to the prospect of being forced to quit because of a broken right arm.

The six-inch scar running down the inside of his arm is the legacy of the worst injury he suffered while playing for his beloved Aspatria, against Carlisle, at Bower Park last November.

Only 20 minutes into the game, he went to tackle Calum Rowlandson and his opponent’s knee accidentally smashed into his arm. There was a loud snap, searing pain and, as he was led from the field, Scott knew straight away the extent of the injury.

At 38, he wonders if he will get back or if it is now time to concentrate on his role as Aspatria’s head coach.

He would prefer to return to action for a final emotional swansong season rather than have the decision forced upon him.

It’s not the first time the odds have been stacked against him – and he can take heart that he’s usually come out on top.

Try playing for Cumbria in front of 10,000 Cornishmen in a hostile atmosphere in the semi-final of the English County Championship.

Or kicking goals at Twickenham on the biggest sporting weekend Cumbria has ever known when the rugby team played Somerset in the final, the day before Carlisle United played in the Auto Windscreens Shield at Wembley in 1997. Along with Wigton’s Andrew Bell, Scott is now one of only two players from that triumphant Cumbria team still playing club rugby.

He won more than 40 county caps and stood shoulder-to-shoulder at Twickenham with the giants of Cumbrian rugby like Mark Richardson, Jimmy Thompson, Stephen Irving, Mike Armstrong and Paul Hancock.

Cumbria had reached the English County Championship Final only once before in 1924 and, when they made it to the 1997 semi-final against Cornwall, the chances of them progressing to a second final seemed remote.

They arrived under police escort to find an intimidating environment, with the ground packed with 10,000 Cornishmen in the black and gold colours of the Duchy of Cornwall and waving imitation pasties. Cumbria left as heroes, graciously clapped off by the partisan home crowd after winning 38-24.

What made reaching the final at Twickenham even more special was that Carlisle United were at Wembley the following day.

Thousands of sports fans made their way south for the glorious double-header.

“I remember the unbelievable scenes at the end of the game as we went up to collect the trophy and there were 10,000 Cumbrians on the pitch at Twickenham,” says Scott, an HGV driver with Sealy, who lives in Cockermouth with wife Tracy and children Ryan, 12, and Kate, eight.

“It was an awesome atmosphere and it still makes you feel very proud to be part of that team.

“We had really experienced forwards like Sean Cusack, Andrew Bell, Stephen Milnes and Mark Richardson, backs like Jimmy Thompson and Stephen Davidson.

“Then we had a couple of rugby league guys in the centres in Paul Burns and Matthew Lynch, who were hard-nosed in the middle of the pack and used to playing in front of big crowds. After what we’d experienced in the semi-final against Cornwall, nothing was going to stop us in the final.

“It would have taken a hell of a team to beat us. We were never behind. Andrew Bell scored a try and then I threw a long ball out to Stephen Davidson, who broke 50 yards and just had the full-back to beat. He put Stephen Milnes in between the sticks. What a try. It put us about 12 points up and we went on to win.

“I loved playing for the county as it was a step up in standard and a chance to test yourself at a higher level.”

Scott, who first laced his boots for Aspatria when he was 10, is the perfect embodiment of an old school rugby player.

Emotional attachment between players and clubs belongs to men of his era and, apart from spells with Orrell, Fylde and Kendal, he has spent his life pulling on the black and red of his home-town club.

Aspatria, led by Dave Robley and Tommy Borthwick, were the kings of Cumbrian rugby during the 1990s, winning four Cumbria Cups in 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1999, and their players were the mainstay of a successful county side.

Scott says: “The team was full of players who knew what it meant to play for the club and the best players flocked to Aspatria.

“We had Jim Pullinger, who brought a real hard edge after he came from Moseley. He wasn’t a talker but was a bit like Martin Johnson – he led by example and the other guys followed.

“Then there was Mark Richardson, England B international George Doggart, and Stephen Davidson.

“Mark was really hard-nosed and made you realise what he was looking for. He was a leader for both Cumbria and Aspatria, who didn’t ask you to do anything he couldn’t do himself. He led Cumbria through the County Championship and was a massive presence in both the Cumbria and Aspatria team.

“The work of Tommy and Dave was phenomenal and they built up a side that won Cumbria Cups on many occasions.

“The Cumbria squad had about seven or eight players from Aspatria.”

Scott joined Orrell in the immediate aftermath of Cumbria’s 1997 triumph, but enjoyed the best rugby of his career during three seasons with Fylde after reaching his prime at 28.

While he was at Kendal, he was picked for England Counties for their tour of Chile, and his team-mates included Saracens winger Dave Strettle and Toulon lock Dean Schofield.

He’s now trying to harness the same spirit as he experienced in his heyday at Aspatria after rejoining them as coach last season, working alongside Richardson, the club’s director of rugby.

After guiding the club to promotion, they’re finding the going much tougher in North West Two.

Their cause has not been helped by the loss of Scott’s experience and ability on the pitch.

“I don’t want to finish on this note, but if it has to be then so be it,” he says.

“But at least I can finish playing knowing I’ve loads of great memories.”

First published at 19:19, Thursday, 09 February 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk