UPPER EDEN saw victory snatched from their grasp when they led 15-5 before conceding three late penalties, two of them advanced for talking back to the referee.

The result was nine points lost and a nail-biting finish, during which Trafford got another penalty for an alleged high tackle that secured victory.

Trafford MV 17 - Upper Eden 16.

After a disjointed start from both sides, Trafford went ahead with from a maul from a five-metre lineout - a try which they could not convert.

Eden replied through Phil Sinclair, who was fed by full back Andy Harker only 25 yards short of the line. That conversion was missed but Rick Heron was on target with a penalty to give his side a half-time lead.

Then Sizwe Zondo made an interception and raced over. Heron added the conversion and Eden looked set fair for a good away win before indiscipline let them down.

Even so, they produced a series of driving mauls which should have brought points, but Trafford got away with pulling them down and calls for a penalty try were dismissed.

It was a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory and the only positve Eden could take home was the quality of their tackling which never faltered throughout.

Upper Eden Boars lost 11-17 to BAE Barrow A.

n Windermere's match at home to Moresby was postponed because of an unfit pitch.

Injury airlift Kendal A................22 Vale of Lune........ 12 KENDAL kicked off their 2005 campaign in the Batemans BMW Premier League with a hard-fought victory against local rivals Vale of Lune.

Kendal scored four tries with stand-off Andrew Boardley converting one. The tries came from right wing Matt Belshaw, prop forward James Bracken, second row Andrew Hudson and back-row forward Andrew Holcroft scored the other.

A Vale of Lune player who was airlifted to hospital was kept in hospital overnight and suffered a whiplash-type injury, which was nowhere near as serious as first feared.

n Kendal Hornets won 46-8 away at Colne and Nelson.