Upper Eden overcame a stern test from Sunderland in their final pre-season game.
A 38-22 win after a hard-fought game sets them up for next Saturday’s County Cup clash at Aspatria.
The Kirkby Stephen side had worked hard to assert themselves and ran-in three tries to lead 24-5 by half-time.
In the second-half Sunderland came back into it, cashing in on home errors to score three tries, one of which was converted.
However Upper Eden responded well and came back to finish the game on top with two converted tries.
It was a good test for the Eden side against decent, hard-tackling opposition.
Having also beaten Darlington, it’s been a promising and satisfying pre-season for Upper Eden against two sides from the League the Cumbrians feel they should have been promoted into.
The Upper Eden tries were scored by Richard Addison (2), James Birkbeck (2) and Will Birkbeck. Ollie Bennett converted all five while Ollie Luke popped over a drop goal.
