Upper Eden travel to Middlesbrough with a much-changed team from the previous week but it was their yellow cards which were probably the deciding factor.
They had two men sin-binned during the game which proved crucial as they went down 32-14.
There can be no question of Eden’s efforts or quality in defence, and all those players that stepped up gave a good account of themselves but they need to understand that yellow cards at this level can prove costly.
The opening encounters were even with both sides attacking well and Eden were strong in defence with good work at the breakdown from Ollie Rose and Rupert Civil.
The hosts did eventually break the Eden defence to record the opening try and following the re-start Middlesborough launched another attack but excellent tackling from Civil and Tom Mooney gave Eden a penalty for not releasing.
This enabled the visitors to clear their lines and from the ensuing line-out they entered the home teams 22, where good work from Mooney and John Blue at the lineout ensured Eden retained possession. The ball was fed to Civil who crossed the home line to score, and it was converted by Rose to put Eden ahead.
The next period of the game was fairly even with both teams testing each other out in and around the middle of the field.
When Middlesborough were awarded a penalty on the half-way line, they opted to kick to the corner and won the line-out. Following a series of short forward drives, they crossed to score and give them a 12-7 lead at half-time.
From the re-start the hosts were quick to attack the Eden line and recorded the first score of the second half when Eden lost Jordan Newitt to a yellow card for a high tackle.
Middlesbrough took advantage of the extra man and moved the ball wide for the winger to secure another try.
Eden launched several breaks, started in the main from Blue at number eight, but then tended to overplay the next phases and not capitalise to turn that pressure into points.
Fin Rose received a yellow card for a late tackle to which he was fully committed to but this appeared to galvanise Eden. A big tackle from Andy Major resulted in Blue turning the ball over which was fed to Flyn Longrigg who scored his first try on his debut for the first team. Ollie Rose converted.
Eden were under pressure from the re-start but an excellent turnover and a breakout of defence by Matthew Sanderson took the visitors into the hosts; half. Support came from Civil whichtook play to the 22 but the home team were awarded penalty enabling them to clear their lines.
Middlesborough were testing the Eden defence and excellent work from Mooney, Sam Birkbeck and Josh Alderson kept them at bay before they were awarded a penalty for offside at the breakdown and opted to put over the kick.
From the re-start the hosts returned to the Eden half and scored with the last play of the game.
Man of the Match was Ollie Rose.
*A youthful Upper Eden Boars faced stiff opposition against an experienced Hartlepool B.B.O.B,and came out on top 34-22.
The visitors were on the attack from the out-set and scored a try to open the scoring before the Boars returned to the opposition half and Chris Curr crossed the line to level the scores at 5-5.
Two consecutive tries from Patrick Wolstenholme pushed the Boards into a 15-5 lead but it was always a closely competitive affair.
Further try scorers for the Boars were Cameron Scott (2), Connor Evans (2) and Travis Simpson.
Cameron Scott and Matt Dent both had influential games but Scott was awarded the man of the match.
