Upper Eden continued their 100 per cent start to the season with an impressive 80-17 win over a young Wigton team.
In front of a large crowd at Pennine Park the hosts started with the wind at their backs and were soon on the scoreboard.
Dan Todd’s kick-off found touch on the Wigton 22 metre line and Eden turned the ball over at the line-out.
Following a series of drives into the Wigton defence Jordan Newitt made a barnstorming run to score the opening try which Todd converted.
When Wigton were awarded a penalty for a high tackle a player from each side was yellow-carded.
Richard Addison thwarted the subsequent Wigton attack by clearing the ball from deep and Sam Edgar made some good ground down the right wing.
When he was awarded a penalty for the opponents not releasing a quick tap was fed to Newitt who charged over to score his second try, again converted by Todd.
By this stage the hosts were dominating play, pushing the Wigton pack off their own ball in the scrums.
Will Birkbeck gathered on the halfway line and drove deep into the Wigton defence who managed to kick the ball dead.
The goal-line drop-out was collected by Eden and kicked to the corner, where from the line-out James Birkbeck drove over to score and unconverted try.
From the re-start Wigton were awarded a scrum for a knock-on but Eden drove them of the ball.
Todd fed Kyle Glasson who scored the bonus point try, converted by Todd.
It had become a procession and Matthew Brass made a break out of defence, evading several tacklers before passing to Will Birkbeck who scored. Todd converted.
When Eden attacked again the ball was fed to Glasson who went over for his second try.
It was becoming a reality check for Wigton, who had travelled with a positive attitude and a strong squad, but they did manage a try by Charlie Bell at the end of the half.
Eden were awarded a penalty from the restart to the second-half which was taken quickly by Sam Birkbeck.
Fast hands to Sanderson fed man of the match Rupert Civil and he scored with Todd converting.
Lee Alderson entered the fray as a replacement and he made a big impact with several powerful drives into the defence.
But it was Will Birkbeckwho was next to score, adding his second try following a line-out. Todd converted.
There was some joy for Wigton though when they took play into the host’s 22 and were awarded a penalty tree for repeated infringements at the breakdown in the red zone.
But Eden were soon back at the other end where Sam Birkbeck broke from the back of the scrum and took the ball into the heart of the oppositions defence to feed Addison who scored in the corner. Todd converted.
Then followed the best try of the game. Cameron Dickinson gathered the re-start and made good yards, passing to Alderson who fed Addison and back to Alderson to score, demonstratung tremendous handling and support play. Todd converted.
To Wigton’s credit they did not let their heads go down and Stuart Carruthers scored a well deserved try.
Before the end Glasson went over for his third try while Allinson scored from the final play of the game. Todd converted for the 10th time as Eden finished with 12 tries.
