RUGBY: Upper Eden moved up to fifth place in a still delicately poised North Lancs/Cumbria League with a 20-6 victory over Didsbury at Pennine Park on Saturday.

Eden started in fine style against a side just two points ahead of them before kick-off, quickly nullifying a Didsbury penalty goal with a ruck inside the visitors' 22, from which hooker Ian Gowing touched down for an unconverted try.

Eden were moving the ball well and looking very sharp when fly-half Ben Alderson dummied and jinked his way over the line for a lovely solo try, converted by Dan Murray.

But at this point, Didsbury dug in and started to apply a lot of pressure on Eden. Winger Adam Knowles and Ben Alderson both went close when breaking from deep, but Didsbury got another penalty goal and came dangerously close to adding tries from two five-metre scrums before the break.

Eden regathered themselves after the interval and a driving maul forced a Didsbury infringement that allowed Murray to kick the home side into a 15-6 lead. Didsbury's flying left-winger was being ably marshalled by Murray and winger Phil Hunter and more good phases of play culminated in a scrum taken against the head and Gowing scoring his sixth try in five games.

Didsbury mounted several late attacks but all were repelled by a solid Eden defending.

l Upper Eden Boars beat Workington 10-5 away in their Cumbria Shield match. Phil Hughes and Micky Longrigg scored uncon-verted tries and Workington responded with an unconverted try of their own.

This weekend sees Upper Eden's 1st XV in action at Fleetwood in their rearranged league match while the Boars should meet Whitehaven in the Cumbria Shield.