Upper Eden clinched promotion from Counties 1 Cumbria when they won their Conference game at Millom 59-26.
They had travelled knowing a bonus point would confirm them as winners of the league and with that incentive they flew into the first few minutes of the match with gusto.
After the opening exchanges good hands saw a break-out from their 22 all the way up to Millom’s five metre line where they were awarded a penalty. Will Birkbeck tapped and crashed over next to the posts for the first try which was converted by
More good back play had Eden near the Millom line where they won a scrum against the head and Sam Birkbeck collected and crashed through some would-be-tacklers for Eden’s second converted try.
For the next ten minutes Millom controlled the ball and pressure finally told with a well-constructed unconverted try for the hosts.
Eden then regained control with some solid forward and back interplay that ultimately finished with a series of long passes and Ollie Bennett crossed over in the corner, 19-5.
Eden then started to really assert themselves and with some hard yards and great hands had prop Matty Sanderson burst through a gap in the defence on halfway and then perfectly release Josh Alderson to run in under the sticks.
Eden had another score before halftime with more quick hands and a deft chip through that had Tom Mooney collect and release Joss Warren to score again.
Just before the end of the first half Millom put together some good phases and after a sublime flicked pass had them scoring to make it 33-12 at the break.
The second half started with the Millom forwards battering the Eden line and after several efforts by Eden to repel them the referee awarded the home side a penalty try.
This kick-started Eden into some more action and after some quick phases John Blue ghosted through a gap but was dragged down just short of the line. With some quick recycled ball Ollie Rose fed Dan Todd who then released Bennett to walk in untouched.
Eden were now in full flight again and more good forward and back play had Todd run through a gap in the defence to score under the sticks before Millom responded with a well-deserved push over try.
In the last few minutes Eden stripped the ball off Millom and then good hands saw Todd feed Alistair Barr to jink past some tiring defenders to score.
The final play of the game had Eden notch another try for Todd as he danced through a gap after a clever chip through. Bennett landed five conversion and the last two were kicked by Todd.
Eden had achieved what they set out to do on the day and for the season and that is complete promotion from the league as champions.
