Sat 28 Sep 2019
A SOMEWHAT makeshift Upper Eden side, depleted by injuries and unavailability, lost to league leaders Cockermouth, due largely to a lacklustre first half performance.
COCKERMOUTH 26, UPPER EDEN 10
The visitors opened the scoring with a well struck penalty by Ollie Bennett, but Cockermouth soon got into gear, scoring two converted tries as their opponents’ defence went off the boil.
Veteran Simon Alderson — making his first appearance for Eden for a long time — came on from the bench and almost immediately pick-ed up a yellow card for a high tackle. Playing against 14 men, the hosts ran in another converted try for a 21-3 lead at half-time.
Interval words of advice from coach Troy Lee brought a big improvement in Eden’s spirit and purpose.
A good build-up gained them ground steadily as they took play through the phases and front row Jim Birkbeck finished off with a well taken try, converted by Bennett. Eden were playing well at this stage and were unfortunate not to add to their score when Bennett went over for what looked like a perfectly good try. However, it was disallowed due to the ball being judged to have gone forward at the touchdown.
Ironically, Cockermouth later added a final try which, despite a clear knock-on, was awarded by a referee whose inconsistencies throughout the game did the visitors no favours.
Upper Eden’s second half performance did them credit considering that no less than 10 first team regulars were missing, forcing positional changes, including Tom Buckle in the front row, along with first team debuts this season for Jay Elliott and Will Robinson, who all did their best under the circumstances.
Better self-belief in the first half and a bit of luck in general could easily have brought them victory against a strong Cockermouth side. Eden man of the match was Jim Birkbeck.
UPPER EDEN BOARS 3,PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS III 78
Due to injuries, outside events and first team demands, the Boars fielded a much depleted side which was outgunned by a strong Hoppers team.
The visitors made an early impact with three tries and two conversions before the Boars put in their first real attack. Hoppers eventually stole the ball and cleared, but the kick went straight to veteran fly half Craig Hall who put over a stunning drop goal from 35 yards out — his side’s only score of the game.
Play was more even for a spell after that, but the visitors added another try before half-time despite brave defensive tacking by the Boars. A converted try straight from the restart gave Hoppers a 29-3 lead, after which the home side rallied somewhat, but were unable to retain possession long enough to build any momentum.
Another score by the visitors brought an end to any real resistance and Hoppers monopolised the rest of the game, adding five converted tries in the last 10 minutes.
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