Egremont Rugby Union Football Club

Egremont 1st XV v Upper Eden (H) 17/12/11

Egremont started the game badly by failing to catch the kick-off and then spent the first five minutes having to defend. Eventually, a clever kick ahead by Jack Kelly put Egremont on the attack and almost led to a score by Callum Huck but the bouncing ball just evaded his grasp with the try-line at his mercy. Upper Eden then used the slope to their advantage pinning Egremont into their own half and they repeatedly attempted to catch and drive lineout ball over the Egremont try-line. The Egremont defence held firm but eventually they were penalised for being offside and Upper Eden kicked the penalty to take a three point lead.
Then, when the Egremont forwards made ground into the Upper Eden half with a series of pick and drives they were awarded a penalty for a high tackle and Kieran Glen kicked the goal to level the scores after half an hours play.
Much of Egremont`s hard work was undone when they conceded penalties at the breakdowns and Upper Eden proceeded to pin Egremont back with kicks to touch near the Egremont try-line. With the last play of the half in stoppage time, Upper Eden caught and drove lineout ball over the try-line near the corner to take a five point lead at the interval.
Egremont turned round with the slope in their favour but they failed to use it to their advantage and it was Upper Eden who began to dictate play by keeping the ball tight and putting pressure on Egremont.
After Egremont were penalised for pulling down a maul, Upper Eden kicked to the corner and tried to drive over the Egremont try-line. The Egremont defence was magnificent and held out for a full ten minutes close to their own line but eventually Upper Eden scored their second try when they switched the ball to the blind-side where their left winger dived over to put Egremont further behind.
From the restart Egremont spent the next ten minutes trying to break through the opposition defence and just when they looked like scoring a try following a break by Callum Huck the ball was spilled ten metres out with the try-line at their mercy.
Egremont were not winning any quick ball from rucks in contrast to Upper Eden who counter-rucked hard and began to control possession and when Egremont were penalised for not rolling away from a tackle Upper Eden kicked the goal to increase their lead.
The game ended with Egremont valiantly trying to break through the Upper Eden defence but the lack of quick ball from the rucks proved their undoing and Upper Eden won a hard fought game by sixteen points to three.