The Upper Eden Eagles ended their first season in the NC 2 North West League with a massive 102-5 win over Cheshire side, Winnington Park.
Spectators enjoyed the fine weather and especially the Eagles triumph over the visitors with a 16-try feast of champagne rugby.
Prior to kick off, a minute’s silence was respected by players and spectators for former player Ryan Hindson who had tragically died the day before in a car accident, making for a difficult start to the game for many.
As play got underway, good conditions underfoot helped the Eagles move the ball out wide and run their opponents ragged.
Some good tackling by Eden in Winnington’s half led to a turnover from flanker Julie Procter.
The ball was off-loaded to second row Sarah Oakley, who ran a good, straight line from ten metres to score the first try of the game, converted by fly-half Lucy Branthwaite.
At the restart, a break from scrum half Lauren Taylor and recycled ball gave Branthwaite the chance to chip over the oncoming defence.
With Winnington’s full back making the error of letting the ball bounce, Branthwaite was able to recover the kick and run in unopposed, converting her own try.
Branthwaite also had a hand in the next try, setting up Nina Smith who beat two defenders to add a further score.
In the next phase of play, Taylor fed the ball to hooker Jodie Rothery, whose run down the blindside led to a break by Mary Trimmer.
With one defender to beat, Trimmer drew her opponent and passed perfectly to Annabel Dickinson allowing her to score under the posts with Branthwaite converting.
Eagles’ captain, Procter, led from the front all afternoon, repeatedly turning over the ball at the breakdown.
At the next play, the ball was moved wide to full back Chloe Collinson, who fed to winger Jenny Coates, allowing her to claim the fifth try of the match.
After the restart, Winnington at last managed to get some play in the Eagles half, but good defence kept them at bay, with Trimmer stealing the ball at a breakdown.
This was passed quickly down the backs to Collinson who out-paced the defence to score under the posts, with Branthwaite converting.
iGood play at the breakdown by Taylor from the restart allowed Collinson to add a second.
A stunning first half was rounded off by Branthwaite receiving the kick off and wrong-footing two defenders to break the line and score from the halfway line, adding the conversion to make it 52-0 at the break.
Immediately from the re-start, Procter was again competing hard to turn the ball over. This was fed blind to number eight Lucy Hogg who broke a tackle to score from 40 metres out under the posts.
Hogg was the next to turn-over the Winnington Park ball and broke down the blindside, passing to Oakley who powered over the try line to score her second of the afternoon.
The next try came from a cross-field kick which was collected by Collinson to score under the posts.
Smith scored her second try next, dissecting the opposition with a lovely straight line run from the halfway line. Branthwaite added the conversion.
The Eagles momentum continued to build, with Collinson collecting a loose ball and showing her speed and skill to score under the posts and convert her own try.
After such a quick paced game, and safe in the knowledge of an already impressive win, the Eagles maybe relaxed a little too much and allowed the visitors to set up some play in the home 22.
From their strong attacks and Eden’s indiscipline, Winnington scored a consolation try from a five metre penalty, which was celebrated by the whole team, coach and travelling supporters.
This wake-up call only served to re-energise the Eagles, with Branthwaite scoring her third try in the corner from the restart, and Procter handing off an opponent to run in and score from her own half.
A quick tap penalty in the Eagles half, led to a final try by Collinson – her fifth of the game.
It had been a splendid team performance from the Eagles, with the forwards matching their bigger opposition in the scrums and having the upper hand at the breakdowns with the pace of the back row giving the backs time and space.
Rothey, Oakley and Laura Kay were all effective at the breakdown and at close driving play, while half-backs Taylor and Branthwaite combined well to feed the backs who took the ball at pace, creating good space.
It meant Upper Eden completed a very successful first season in the NC 2 North (West) league with their biggest win yet.
Individual awards went to – Forward of the Match – Jodie Rothery; Back of the Match – Chloe Collinson; Opposition choice as top player – Lauren Tayor.
