TRY TIME: Upper Eden’s Matt Allinson heads for the line on his way to a try during Saturday’s victory over Eccles at Pennine Park.

AFTER a disappointing defeat the previous week Upper Eden regained form with a five-try demolition of third placed Eccles in a cracking game at Pennine Park.

In excellent playing conditions it was the visitors who threatened initially, but Eden defended well and eventually cleared with the help of a solid driving maul.

A penalty in their favour then gave the home side an attacking lineout from which scrum half Ben Alderson made a dart for the goal-line, but was held up. Eden won the five-metre scrum and quick ball out to Matt Allinson saw the fly half carve his way through for a self-converted try under the posts.

Eccles came straight back to register their first points with a 30-metre penalty goal, having just missed one from almost the same spot.

Shortly after, Eden infringed again and this time the visitors kicked for the corner to set up a five-metre lineout from the back of which their forwards drove over for an unconverted try.

Their one-point lead was short-lived however as, soon after, Allinson restored the Cumbrians’ advantage with a well struck penalty goal.

They then went further ahead when some excellent approach play and ball retention took them back inside their opponents’ 22. Quick ball from a ruck and a long miss-pass found new centre Darroch Alexander who ran incisively to the corner for a fine try which Allinson just failed to convert.

In what had become an end-to-end battle Eccles were next to score when their forwards forced their way over from short range for another unconverted try after Phil Hunter’s excellent last-ditch tackle on the winger seemed to have saved the day. Undeterred, Eden countered straight from the restart, driving deep into their opponents’ territory where good handling and offloading at close quarters saw Ben Alderson’s final inside pass find Phil Sinclair 10 yards out in front of the posts. Virtually unstoppable from this position, the big Eden centre duly powered his way over for his side’s third try. Allinson’s simple conversion gave a more comfortable feel to the scoreline.

In fact, the hosts almost went further ahead on the stroke of half-time when Alexander just failed to reach Sam Pearson’s clever chip ahead to the left corner. Straight from the restart, after good rucking by the forwards had won possession in midfield, Eden stole a lineout and moved the ball swiftly along the backs only to see a final knock-on waste another scoring opportunity.

A period of tight play followed during which Paul Alderson, making a welcome and influential return to Eden’s back row, was harshly yellow-carded.

This proved no disadvantage however as the home side upped the intensity of their game, tackling and rucking with vigour to deny their opponents any useful possession or territory.

Soon after Alderson’s return to the field, the home side regained possession from an Eccles clearance and Alexander’s slightly deflected chip ahead landed favourably for Phil Hunter who caught it on the full, broke the first tackle and sprinted 30 yards for an excellent try between the posts, converted by Allinson.

The visitors tried desperately to get back into the game, but were met by an outstanding Eden defence, tackling well, quick to the breakdown, and hitting the rucks hard, thus staying on the front foot event when not in possession.

It was no surprise when, after another prolonged spell of pressure, Eden scored again via some neat handling and support play by Ben Alderson and Rob Quarry which sent back row John Blue clear for his team’s fifth try, Allinson just missing the conversion.

Eccles were determined to have the last word. Countless rucks, drives and mauls, some perhaps a little over-vigororous, were stopped just short by a resolute defence before the final clearance ended the game.

Arguably, this was Upper Eden’s most complete performance for a long time, highlighting the up and down nature of their form this season during which they have now defeated the top three teams in their division while losing to two of the sides in the bottom four.

Man of the match was captain and scrum half Ben Alderson, while front row Ian Gowing, try scorer the previous week, marshalled the forwards expertly. Phil Hunter was back on the right wing, but is now making a big contribution to play all over the park.

Match sponsor was Mark Johns Motors. Match ball sponsor was Out of Eden.

l Upper Eden Boars were due to play a rearranged fixture against Broughton, but their opponents were unable to raise a team and conceded the points.

l Today Upper Eden first team are away to Heaton Moor and the Boars host Penrith III.