Upper Eden completed another excellent season by receiving the Counties 1 Cumbria Championship trophy from the president of the RFU.
The silverware was presented at the club’s final game of the season which ended in a rare defeat, their third of the campaign.
Cockermouth went to Pennine Park seeking a league double and also to make progress in the new Papa John’s Trophy competition and left with a thrilling 18-15 victory.
It meant Upper Eden – who had beaten Cockermouth earlier in the season – had only lost two games in three years, both this season to the Wasps while the other defeat was to Penrith in the County Cup final.
But after three successive years as League champions everyone was united that Eden deserved promotion, and it does seem as though Cockermouth will join them as one of the best runners-up so the pair are likely to meet up again in 2023/24.
If their games are as good as this one there will be no complaints from followers of both clubs and also neutral rugby union aficianados.
Cockermouth had started strongly and immediately gained momentum, putting pressure on the home defence where outstanding work by Matty Sanderson and Sam Birkbeck kept them at bay.
However after nine minutes the visitors did make the break-through. From a line-out on the Eden five metre line they set-up a driving maul which ended with Dan Fielden going over for the touchdown. The conversion attempt was wide.
From the re-start Eden upped their game with Jim Birbeck flying into tackles and upsetting the Cockermouth rhythm. When the Wasps were penalised Eden kicked to the corner to set-up an opportunity for the forwards but the line-out was lost.
They had another chance, too, to level the scores after a flowing move between backs and forwards saw Dan Todd break through, creating a two on one but the pass to Ollie Bennett went astray.
As expected the game was a tense affair with both defences doing exceptionally well to repulse dangerous attacks.
Eden did take the lead after some quick-thinking from young winger Ali Barr who got over in the corner and Bennett landed a fine touchline conversion.
That sparked a good spell for Eden when they put together some menacing attacks. When Sanderson punched a hole in the Cockermouth defence Bennett was the beneficiary by taking the pass to score in the corner. This time he was unable to convert.
But this Cockermouth team don’t lie down and they came back strongly with some fine tactical kicking from fly half and man of the match Ed Gate keeping the home side pinned back. It meant plenty more defensive work for Eden.
When the Wasps were awarded a penalty under the Eden posts they opted for a scrum from which number eight Mike Stephens picked up and powered over to level the scores. The conversion was missed.
Eden started the second-half sloppily and when Cockermouth were awarded a penalty full-back Dan Woodcock made no mistake to put his side back in front at 15-12.
Poor discipline by Eden saw them giving away far too many penalties and they were increasingly frustrated at Cockermouth’s ability to disrupt their line-outs.
Into the final quarter and Eden did manage to put some positive play together and when Cockermouth infringed Bennett was able to level with a successful penalty.
With two minutes left to play an Eden forward kicked the ball out of a ruck and from 35 yards Woodcock landed the penalty which proved to be the winning points.
With the last play of the game Eden got themselves into a strong attacking position but knocked-on.
