A PURPOSEFUL, disciplined and highly-motivated Upper Eden moved to the top of the North Lancs/Cumbria League with a super display of all-round rugby at Pennine Park on Saturday.
In a game blighted by incessant rain, Eden countered Carlisle's every move and, after hitting the post with his first penalty attempt, Rick Heron put them ahead with his second.
Quick-passing saw Carlisle outflank Eden for a try in the corner, but they missed the conversion and a Heron drop goal saw his side regain the lead. Then Sizwe Zondo jinked his way through the Carlisle defence after a lineout had broken down to give Eden a deserved 11-5 half-time lead.
Carlisle regrouped after the break and attacked Eden with a string of driving mauls. But inspirational work by the back row of Colin Wolstenholme, Karl Haygarth and Andy Kerr, who was outstanding, ensured that Eden did not buckle and, after 20 minutes of sustained pressure, Carlisle could only manage one unconverted try.
Eventually, Eden emerged from Carlisle's dominance and regained the upper hand. Some good rucking took the ball up to withing 15 yards of the Carlisle line and then the ball was spun out to Rick Heron, who crossed for the final score of the match.
The game, and that of the Boars, was sponsored by Johnstones garage, and the resulting victory gives Upper Eden a single point lead ahead of Rossendale, St Benedict's, Tyldesley, Wigton and Trafford MV in a keenly contested league division. Unexpected defeats for Rossendale and Wigton worked in Upper Eden's favour and all but two of the teams below have games in hand on Eden, who are without a game themselves next Saturday.
Upper Eden Boars were also at home, losing 10-30 to a Carlisle side that was closer to a second team than a third. They held Carlisle well in the first half with a try by scrum half Ben Alderson, converted by Gavin Sisson, and a penalty by Mike Hughes. But Carlisle had a kicker who was deadly from all areas of the pitch and his personal points tally gave his side a flattering winning margin.
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