After losing their long unbeaten record, Upper Eden got back to winning ways with a convincing Counties 1 Conference 74-3 win over Egremont.
The west Cumbrians had been the champions’ closest rivals early in the season but they have rather fallen away over the second-half.
The first 10 minutes were fairly even in terms of how both sides started but after some good Eden phases and quick hands the home side scored.
Ollie Luke linked with John Blue who then hit Matt Brass with the perfect pass for the winger to go 50 metres for the first try.
More pressure from Eden again had quick ball movement in the backline where Blue ghosted through a gap in the defence for the second try.
Egremont then had a period of control which resulted in a well struck penalty from Taylor Richardson to pull them back to 12-3.
For the next ten minutes of the game the exchanges were even but eventually Eden found themselves near the Egremont line and from the resulting line-out the catch and drive from the forwards Lee Alderson scored the third try.
The home side then took control of the remainder of the half and with some hard fought yards and resulting quick phase ball had Kyle Glasson hit a great line and go through under the posts untouched for a try.
The final play of the half again produced good backline play and Blue fed Dan Todd who in turn fed Brass for a try and a half-time lead of 33-3.
The second half followed the pattern which had emerged at the end of the first with Eden controlling the game.
Solid forward play and quick back-line passing sent Blue through a gap for a 60 metre dash to the line.
Egremont then enjoyed a strong period which had them camped on the Eden line for around 10 minutes.
That good spell ended with an intercept by Luke which saw him run virtually the length for another score.
Eden then re-took control for the rest of the game and added tries at regular intervals.
Quick phase play and a breakdown the pitch by Will Birkbeck got him over in the corner to pass the half century mark.
Then running a great angle in attack by prop Jordon Newitt near the line had hm score under the posts.
The other tries all resulted from Eden’s interlinking backs and forwards with Brass collecting his hat-trick and Todd his second.
Oliver Bennett finished with eight out of 12 conversion attempts.
