Upper Eden are happy to be cast in the role of under-dogs when they take-on neighbours Penrith in Saturday’s County Cup final at Kendal.
It’s their very first Cumbria final – against a club who have won it nine times.
Penrith also go into the game on the back of some stirring performances in Regional 2 North which culminated in them clinching the title with a 100-0 demolition of Consett.
Upper Eden, on the other hand, still need a point from their last two Counties Cumbria 1 Conference games to clinch the title and promotion.
Neil Marston, the Upper Eden chairman, played back row in one of those Westmorland County Cup triumphs but admits he’s more nervous about Saturday.
“I was in the side that won the Westmorland Cup for the first time in 1983/84. It was third time lucky because we had lost to Windermere in the two previous finals and beat them at the third attempt.
“The club was only formed in 1975 so those were memorable days for us.
“As I can recall we played Penrith several times in those early years but only ever beat them once in 1978.
“As for this time I know the lads will be fine, but I think maybe because it’s Penrith, a local derby, it has made me more nervous.
“It does give an extra edge to the game but we have a great group of level-headed lads who play for each other. They won’t be making any daft predictions about how they are going to do this and do that.
“I feel very privileged to be chairman of a club in which the players are so together in what they do on the field.”
Marston also believes this is in part down to the philosophy of the club coach Oli Luke, the PE master at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School.
“Oli played National League rugby in the south and has been with us two years now. I can’t speak highly enough about his work as coach with the club.
“He takes a positive side to everything, is very much part of the group and the results have been outstanding,” he says.
Upper Eden beat Aspatria and Kendal on their way to the final and Marston believes their giant-killing acts have helped revive the competition which has been in the doldrums for a while.
“Wherever we play people are saying they are coming along to watch the final. We seem to have raised the profile, which is great because the competition used to be the showpiece of the season.
“I have to say as well the people in Kirkby Stephen are really getting behind the team. There are posters in shop windows all over the place with out badges and colours on display.
“There was a special show of support from the pupils at Kirkby Stephen Primary School.
“It is great to see so many people in the town supporting the rugby club.”
Injuries will mean Upper Eden having to make two changes from the successful semi-final team, but their replacements have already proved themselves in the ensuing League games.
The club chairman was at Twickenham on Saturday for England’s record defeat against France, but expects a much better show from his own team this week-end.
