Upper Eden had their stiffest test yet after almost three seasons of domination in the Cumbria League.
They retained their 100 per cent record but only after a really tough, but entertaining clash with Cockermouth at Pennine Park.
It finished 30-22 to last season’s top team and they certainly knew they had been in a tight game.
Ross Mills the Cockermouth coach said: “Our scrum was outstanding and Ed Gate was the best player on the field.
“As always the man in the middle can be key in these tight, pressured games and unfortunately some key decisions, including tries awarded against us, didn’t go our way.”
The early exchanges saw Cockermouth dominate the opening 10 minutes and Upper Eden had to work hard in defence to keep them out.
Then the hosts got into their stride and put a few passages of good phases together which resulted in Rupert Civil bursting through a couple of tackles near the 22 metre line. He beat the full-back to cross for a fine individual unconverted try.
Cockermouth then enjoyed a period of control and a penalty near the corner set up a good catch and drive. Some strong mauling by the forwards resulted in a try for Alex Butterfield.
For the next 15 minutes the contest was evenly matched before Cockermouth applied pressure and some well-worked back play saw them create an opportunity for Jake Moore to touch down under the posts. Gate converted.
This might have been the wake-up call Upper Eden needed as following that score, they started to string some of their own good phases together.
After some effective straight running Sam Birbeck provided a nice pass over the top of the defence that found Richard Addison who out-stripped the defence to score under the posts. Dan Todd converted.
Almost on half-time Upper Eden were awarded a penalty which was successfully converted by Todd and a keenly contested affair finished 15-12 to the hosts at the break.
At the start of the second half the first 10 minutes were again full of intent by both teams but good defence meant no further points.
Then on 55 minutes Upper Eden put together a series of quick-phase rucks and a kick through from Addison was collected by Civil to run in his second try. Cockermouth then had a period of sustained pressure and a mistake in clearing their lines by Upper Eden allowed Cockermouth another opportunity.
The ball was spread wide via the backs and Moore scored in the corner.
This again prompted a reaction from Upper Eden who then had their best passage of the game with forwards and backs retaining the ball over multiple phase play.
It all ended with a flowing back line move and James Bowman dotted down in the corner as a result.
From the re-start a number of penalties were awarded against the visitors that allowed Upper Eden back into Cockermouth’s 22 and an attacking line-out from that meant a catch and drive resulted in Upper Eden’s fifth try for George Johnstone.
The final score of the match was a try for Cockermouth which stemmed from a mishandled kick through from Upper Eden upon.
The visitors pounced on the loose ball and regathered before Gate outpaced the home defence to score in the corner.
The last five minutes saw opportunities for Cockermouth that were not turned into points due to good defence and infringements.
Jake Moore, the former Wigan, Whitehaven and Workington centre/second row had an outstanding game for Cockermouth in the centre.
