Upper Eden couldn’t have asked for a tougher start to 2024 in Regional Two North – a trip to League leaders Percy Park.
It was a much-changed Upper Eden squad who travelled to Preston Avenue with several regulars missing with injury or illness.
Under the circumstances the Cumbrians came out of a 26-6 defeat with plenty of credit against experienced opposition, competing at all levels and tackling like demons.
Park kicked off and were quick on the attack, but the Pennine Park men were solid in defence and regained possession to move the ball well down the line and into the home team’s 22 metre.
Edens’s line-out, with Tom Mooney, Andy Major and Issac Dent performing well provided scrum half Ollie Rose with some good ball. They had the first real chance when Rose chipped over the defence, but the Percy Park full back won the race to touch down in goal.
Eden went on the attack following the goal line drop-out and were awarded a penalty for the opposition backs being offside and Oliver Bennett put them ahead with a successful kick.
The Cumbrians Eden were going about their game in a workmanlike fashion, dominating the set pieces and putting good phases of play together to challenge the high-flying hosts.
Following the restart, Percy Park put several phases of play together but good work at the breakdown from Fin Rose and Josh Winder nullified the attacks. A further attack from Park saw Bennett turn the ball over on his five metre line and was duly awarded a penalty which allowed him to clear his lines.
Eden won the line-out on halfway and a neat break from Ollie Rose unlocked the host’s defence. The ball was moved wide but unfortunately the final pass didn’t go to hand as it would have resulted in a clear run into the try line.
Eden regained possession from the scrum and were awarded a penalty which Bennett put over to double the lead.
The home team realised that they were in a game and started to gather themselves. They retained good possession and moved the ball well to score in the corner to make the half-time score 5-6.
Following the re-start, the home team were quick on the attack and through several phases of play with swift hands through the backs scored a converted try to take the lead.
Then the League leaders were awarded a line-out in the Eden half and following several phases crossed for a further converted try to lead 19-6.
Eden continued to work hard in a physical contest, but Park were starting to dominate the set pieces with their replacement forwards. From an Eden attack the home team recycled the ball and launched an attack from deep to register the final score of the game.
The Cumbrians continued to challenge in attack and defence. Will Birkbeck turned an attack over under the posts to thwart a score and the ball was cleared for a home team line-out on the 22-metre line.
A loose ball from the line-out was gathered by Eden’s man of the match James Birkbeck who made a barnstorming run down the pitch only to be caught in the home teams 22 metre.
Good support from Fin Rose and Andy Major wasn’t enough to retain possession and the home side cleared their lines to bring the game to a conclusion.
