Upper Eden marked their debut in Regional 2 North with an excellent 42-33 win at Consett – the only Cumbrian side to mark the opening game in that league with a victory.
Conditions were ideal for open running rugby at Amethyrst Park for this first ever league encounter between the two clubs.
Eden started strong and drove into the home sides 22 where they won a penalty in front of the posts. Ollie Bennett landed the kick to record the first points of the new campaign.
The hosts launched a series of attacks into the Eden half but these were thwarted by excellent defending with Matthew Sanderson, Josh Winder and Sam Birkbeck to the fore.
Tom Mooney won a penalty for not releasing enabling the visitors to launch an attack into the Consett half but the home side were strong in defence and duly set upon an attack in the visitor’s half which resulted in an unconverted try for a 5-3 lead.
The home side returned the restart with a long kick and chase to the Eden line where the opposition full back failed to touch the ball down but was obstructed by Matthew Brass who received a yellow card for interfering with the attacking player.
The referee awarded a penalty try and at that point the home side were playing with confidence and scored two converted tries to give them a commanding 26-3 lead.
Eden gathered themselves from the restart and a good break from John Blue split the defence. Rupert Civil made good ground before feeding Ollie Rose to score with the conversion from Bennett.
Then a Consett player received a yellow card and with Rose and Blue combining well together at the set piece and breakdown Eden kept the initiative resulting in Blue going over for a score.
The visitors were now playing with some confidence and earned a penalty on the opposition’s 22 metre line. A quick tap to Sam Birkbeck resulted in a barnstorming run before feeding Winder who crashed over to score. The conversion by Bennett made the half time score 26-24 with Eden right back in it.
The visitors were quick on the attack from the restart and good work from Civil and Will Birkbeck in midfield earned a penalty which Bennett converted to take the lead.
Eden made changes in the front row with the inclusion of James Birkbeck and started to dominate the set scrums. Will Birkbeck earned a further penalty at the breakdown and Bennett converted to extend the lead to 30-26.
The home side were not done and drove into the visitors 22 resulting in a converted try and they were back in front by three points.
The Pennine Park men had to dig deep and they launched a series of attacks. Eventually from a penalty on the 22, Rose took a quick tap and fed James Birkbeck who crashed over for an unconverted try.
Eden upped the intensity and Rose was orchestrating his forwards with ease. He made an excellent 50/22 kick and the ball was secured in the line-out. Following a number of drives Andy Major went over to score and with the conversion by Bennett the last points of the game confirmed an Upper Eden win.
This was an excellent performance from Eden on their first outing at Level 6. They were challenged by a strong Consett team but stuck to the cause and ran out deserved winners with the man of the award going to Ollie Rose.
- Upper Eden Boars travelled to Play Consett 2nds with a bare 15 players. They lost 38-8 to a much more experienced Consett team but earned credit for winning the second-half.
