Upper Eden still in 'mix'

Oldham took an early lead with a penalty goal from in front of the posts and although Karl Haygarth got an unconverted try following a lineout move, it soon became clear that Eden were not going to have an easy afternoon.

Duncan Rose had to leave the field with a broken nose from a high tackle and then Oldham regained the lead through some good work by their useful backs that saw them touch down in a corner.

Eden squandered a great chance when a pass went over full back Dan Murray's head with the line at his mercy but, undeterred, they continued to press and Paul Bud' Brown came into the centre, beating two men before unselfishly feeding winger Adam Knowles, who finished from just two metres out.

Poor passing and handling was spoiling the fluency of Eden stop-start approach play but in the second half they began to show more cohesion, hitting the rucks hard and dominating the Oldham pack, who visibly started to tire.

A driving maul resulted in a lineout from which hooker Ian Gowing eagerly grabbed a try and victory was looking more certain until possession was lost and Oldham's centre swept over from 35 yards out.

Eden got a let-off when the conversion kick was missed and the continuous phases that followed gradually wore Oldham down. Eden won a scrum against the head and the ball went right across the home backs for Knowles to finish in a corner. Then, from another scrum, the ball was worked to centre Phil Sinclair. He was held on the line but flanker Colin Wolstenholme gathered and drove over for a try that was finally converted by Murray.

By now, Eden had the momentum and a kick ahead found the Oldham full back in isolation where he was dispossessed for scrum half Simon Alderson to make the touchdown.

* Saturday's match was sponsored by Boardley and Durnall, of Kendal, and this weekend sees Eden in action at Fleetwood while the Boars are at home to Cumbria Shield leaders Penrith B'.