AN UNDER strength Upper Eden side was unable to cover the pace of a useful Carlisle side at Warwick Road on Saturday.

Upper Eden began without three key decision-makers and, after holding Carlisle to just 10 points in the first half, lost the experienced Phil Sinclair with a knock.

Carlisle held the intiative right from the start and deservedly took the lead with a penalty. Their first try followed soon afterwards as their right winger, South African Clinton Myneheart, outpaced Eden's cover.

Eden responded by trying to keep the ball tight among the forwards and work round the fringes of the mauls. Stalwart play by Colin Wolstenholme and Paul Alderson in particular stemmed the tide for a while and Bud Brown hit an upright with a penalty but, that aside, every time Carlisle got wide possession they looked threatening.

Myneheart finished another sweeping move and Carlisle full back Jason Lehman went under the posts as the score climbed to 22-0. Eden lacked sufficient support close to the line to mount a serious fightback and Carlisle hooker Graham Kidd completed their disappointment with the final try of the match.

Northallerton 3rds cried off their reserves match with Upper Eden Boars and the first XV is fixtureless on Saturday. The Boars play Clitheroe 2nds away.