Upper Eden were pipped at the post in their Regional 2 North clash at Durham City – going under 15-14 to a late penalty.
Durham had started the season well with two wins against Cockermouth and Keswick so Eden were expecting a tough encounter.
They started well from the kick-off before Durham got into their stride and were caped in the Eden 22 with wave after wave of penetrating attack.
The Eden defence coped magnificently to thwart the big Durham forwards and the only real chance came from a penalty which was struck wide.
However, on ten minutes an Eden clearance from their 22 was charged down and Will Seymour collected to touchdown for the opening try which skipper Paul Armstrong converted from the touchline.
To add to Eden’s woes athletic second rower Rob Dent was yellow-carded for a reckless challenge in the air from the re-start.
Eden were now under the cosh and only outstanding defence, particularly by the backs, kept the home side at bay.
Fin Rose was outstanding at the ruck for Eden and loose play but as the Cumbrians began to get the journey ‘out of their legs’ they lost Tom Mooney through injury.
It meant they brought on James Birkbeck which meant a pack re-shuffle and losing their key line-out thrower caused them problems, losing several of their own throws.
However the key stat was that the scoreline had not moved on when Dent returned from his stint in the bin.
Eden were still in the game and by this time were settling down into their pattern of play. Unfortunately they suffered another injury blow when openside flanker Josh Winder suffered a damaged hand. Travis Simpson replaced him.
It was at that point that Durham scored again. At a line-out the dominant number eight Peter Dent secured the ball and when they moved it wide the winger Will Elliott crashed over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Durham continued to put pressure on the visitors, especially in the ruck and line-outs but Eden stayed resolute.
If one thing more than anything else let down the Cumbrians it was their kicking out of hand. Loose kicks were collected by Durham and they were able to pile back on the attack to mount more pressure.
Then Eden hit back with a great try that started from a set piece. The ball was moved down the back line to put winger Josh Alderson clear with only the full-back to beat.
He drew his man and put the supporting Oli Rose in for a fine team try which Oli Bennett converted.
Eden were lifted by this and had Durham on the back foot. Again the ball was fed along the back-line before Oli Rose chipped in behind the home defence where Sam Edgar beat the Durham full-back, chipped over him before gathering to score the second try.
Bennett’s conversion gave Eden a 14-12 lead at the half-time break.
Eden started strongly in the second half but ill discipline cost them when Matthew Brass was shown a yellow card for foul play.
This lifted Durham and number eight Dent was influential for them in several attacks on Eden’s line. Once more Eden had to dig deep and the forwards were outstanding in defence.
The game ebbed and flowed and Eden did have a couple of opportunities to score but failed through lack of concentration at key moments.
With two minutes left Durham were awarded a penalty for offside right under the Eden posts and Armstrong converted to win the game.
It might have been through lack of concentration and patience on Eden’s part but it was still a great performance by a young squad of players.
They have demonstrated they can match teams in this League after their promotion to sit fourth in the table fro two wins and a bonus point defeat.
High fliers Percy Park are the visitors to Pennine Park on Saturday for what should be a cracking contest.
*Playing in Candy Division South League, Eden 2nds got their own back for their club-mates narrow defeat by beating their Durham City counterparts 18-17.
Kian Nicholson and Flyn Longrigg scored the Eden tries with Jay Elliot converting one and kicking two penalties.
