UPPER Eden returned to winning ways on Saturday with a deserved victory against a much-improved Tyldesley.

Eden amassed 80 points against their opponents last season but the side they faced on Saturday posed plenty of problems in a game that was constantly affected by a strong diagonal wind.

Eden had the wind advantage in the first half and Rick Heron fired them ahead with an early penalty, then the fly-half went on a superb 60-metre run from his own defence, beating players en route to an outstanding solo effort under the posts, wheich he converted himself.

Tyldesly stayed in touch with a penalty but then Heron dropped a goal to give Eden a deserved 13-3 lead at half-time.

The Eden forwards were unable to sustain their dominance after the break and Tyldesley came back strongly with a converted try under the posts. Their pressure continued for nearly another quarter hour and Eden were forced to defend their line with some outstanding tackles. Prop David Hughes was particularly prominent and then played his part in the rucks and mauls that prepoared the way for Colin Wolstenholme to grab a typical close range try which was then converted by Heron. That try sealed the result and Eden controlled the remainder of the match by keeping posession well up the pitch.

With two wins and a draw in the Cumbria and North Lancs League, Eden are well placed but they face their first real test of the season at Pennine Park on Saturday when they host league leaders Wigton.

l Upper Eden Boars beat Carlisle 3rds 31-5 with an impressive performance. Centre Matt Prime opened the scoring when he went over from a tap penalty. Fly-half Gavin Sisson finished well for a second, converted by Mike Hughes that took the score to 12-0 at half-time.

The Boars squandered a lot of possession in a stop-start second half, but Prime scored again for Hughes to convert and then Scott Sowerby found a gap for a fourth try. Substitute Richard Cullen added the last and Carlisle finally got on the score sheet themsleves with a late consolation effort in a corner.

On Saturday, the Boars face Selby 3rds, also at Pennine Park.

l Upper Eden were dumped out of the intermediate cup at Kirkby Lonsdale last Tuesday, losing 8-3 in a tight encounter. Rob Heron scored the penalty points but Kirkby won with a try in a corner and a penalty.