Rugby - Eden struggle under hihg ball (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Eden struggle under hihg ball

9:11am Monday 17th November 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

UPPER Eden lost more ground in their North Lancs/Cumbria League campaign on Saturday in a 31-16 home defeat by Wigton.

There was little between the sides in the early exchanges before Wigton took the lead with an unconverted breakaway try. Matt Allinson kicked a wonderful long range penalty to cut their lead and then went close with a second kick before Wigton drove over again.

Eden fought back and created several good positions but they simply could not score and llineouts, in particular, were becoming a problem. However, after the interval, Allinson kicked a really good penalty and then added his third of the match following the obstruction of Paul Brown, and at 9-10 Eden were back in the contest.

Unfortunately, slack defending of a high ball saw Wigton run in a converted try and they scored again adding the conversion John Longdon was caught just shy of the line at the other end before Wigton got another converted try but Longdon then scored a lovely try by chipping ahead and touching down near the posts for Allinson to make a simple conversion.

Manchester 2nd 0.

Kendal 2nd 33.

FOR those on the receiving end of 100-point hidings at Manchester in the past, this victory was a sweet as it will get.

Transformed from a 67-nil savaging by Sedgley a week previously, Kendal posted an early try when Andy Hudson offloaded from two tacklers to the supporting Gillard, who spun out of contact and fed Wharton to go over. Jacobs' conversion attempt struck the upright .

When Manchester lost a prop, Kendal faced uncontested scrums for the fourth week running, but rather than taking the edge off the game, both sides poured on pace and power from off the base.

After pummelling Manchester with varied options, Ross was driven over and Jacobs converted to make it 12-0.

After the forwards supported a great break by Fijian Tuni , flying Irishman Fitzmorris stepped inside to score under the posts for a third try, which with the conversion stretched the gap to 19-0.

More slick handling and good decision-making allowed Meli to waltz in before half time, Jacobs adding the extras for a 26-0 half-time lead.

In the second half, Manchester used their big centres to power the ball through but Murray twice made last-ditch try-saving tackles.

Instead, Kendal came back to run the game in a great team effort. The final try came from debutant Bill, who from a short lineout made a 25-metre run-in, outstepping the full back, on his way over. Meli converted to give Kendal a 33-nil win.