Upper Eden had to work hard for their five points in the derby game against Penrith 2nds in Counties 1 Cumbria.
It finished 41-19 to the League champions but the foundation was laid in a flying start in which they scored 17 points in the first 10 minutes.
As with the previous two games at this level Penrith started very slowly, conceding two well-worked tries inside the first five minutes and a further one shortly after.
Scrum-half Richard Addison scored two of them, one of them from half-way and the other by Matt Allinson, who has just rejoined Upper Eden after a long spell at Penrith. Allinson converted one.
Upper Eden’s class was telling and Penrith were facing what looked like a long afternoon.
However the next quarter became pretty even and Penrith started to gain confidence with great defence from Robbie Phillipson, Ed Smith and Jack Tinkler and when in possession they looked dangerous.
They scored a very well worked try down the left hand side with the ball being transferred through several pairs of hands resulting in Tinkler beating his opposite number in a run to the line.
Upper Eden were not happy with a poor defensive line and a missed tackle which contributed to the score.
Penrith then added a further try but before the break the home side had stretched the lead to 27-12 with unconverted tries by winger Matt Brass and centre Joss Warren.
Penrith’s lineout had functioned pretty well, and the ideas were right, it was just the execution that let them down at times.
The second half was a more even contest, as the Penrith scrum improved massively with the introduction of John Forrest, Lee Chapman and Craig Tyson who worked tirelessly around the park
If a couple of early chances in the second half had been finished off the score line would have been much closer.
Upper Eden, however, always looked like they had another gear and a great run by Warren provided a try for Allinson which was converted by Ollie Bennett.
Penrith responded though and scored an impressive try through Jack Mason who stepped inside his man to finish in the corner, with Sam Dudson converting from the touchline.
That was as close as Penrith got and Eden added another good try by Bennett which he converted himself.
Dylan Thompson was given Penrith man of the match by the opposition and again impressed while Robbie Phillipson had his best game for the club.
In the end, though, Upper Eden – almost back to full strength – were too good for their neighbours in a very competitive match in which the tackling from both sides was generally keen.
Addison was named man of the match for Upper Eden while there was a special word for referee Roger Moffat on the way he officiated.
