RUGBY: Upper Eden's efforts to secure their position in the North Lancs/Cumbria League took a knock on Saturday when they met the strongest side to visit Pennine Park this season.

St Benedict's superior ball handling and support play proved too much for Eden, wh o eventually lost 13-30 despite a late in the day switch to the tried and tested tactic of keeping the ball tight among the forwards.

St Benedict's took the lead with a penalty goal and then resisted Eden's attempts on their line with some solid tackling. And when Colin Mbongwa did succeed with a penalty, St Benedict's created an overlap to score an unconverted try.

Eden drove a maul 30 metres upfield at one stage, but possession was lost and St Benedict's scored again. Then theirfly-half's crossfield kick was caught by their left-winger, who was allowed to score a third unconverted try to take the half-time score to 3-18.

Mbongwa reduced the arrears with a penalty but St Benedict's were given too much space again and scored their only converted try of the match.

Mbongwa's long pass to right winger Mark Shuttleworth finally produced an Eden score, which Mbongwa also converted, but St Benedict's pace and Eden's poor tackling resulted in yet another try for the lively visitors and a late. forward-led rally proved fruitless.

Eden are away to Blackburn on Saturday while the Boars travel to Egremont for their A' team game.