Upper Eden 26 – 5 Didsbury Toc H

Toc H had to re-shuffle the team, with veteran Chris Reeves coming into the second row to ably replace Shaun Walker.

Didsbury’s day didn’t start well as road works hampered their coach journey from the outset, resulting in them arriving late to face Cumbrian side Upper Eden. With a rushed warm-up completed the Didsbury side took to the field, to face an always tough foe.
The hosts started well and forced Didsbury onto the back foot, but for some fine scrambling defence a number of early tries may have been conceded. Despite Gaz Oakley and Joe Bradbury using the strong wind well to kick clear, Upper Eden were soon back deep in Didsbury territory. The Didsbury lineout failed to fire in the first half, due to a mixture of the conditions and early season miscommunication – and this led to Upper Eden’s opening try. Toc H failed to secure a lineout in their own 22, allowing Upper Eden to gain control of the ball and drive over a try. The conversion drifted wide 5-0. Upper Eden increased their lead with a good midfield break by their fly-half, who was allowed to score under the posts without a hand being laid on him. The extras were added and the home side led 12-0. For the remainder of the half Didsbury came more into the game, and from a set piece in opposition territory the ball was fed through the hands of the backline (including a brave pass from Tom Makin – who had to leave the field due to the injury received) to winger Dave Hoare. Hoare, one of the leagues danger men, beat the two covering tacklers to touch down in the corner. The tricky conversion went wide, but Didsbury had closed the gap to 12-5. There were no more scores before the half time whistle, despite Didsbury exerting pressure on the home side’s tryline.

Didsbury started the second half well, with Alex Bone (who had come on to replace Tom Makin) putting in an accomplished performance at fullback. But another Didsbury injury saw them without either starting centre on the pitch, and with flanker Aidan Murphy now occupying the inside centre position Didsbury altered their gameplan to suit. Gaz Oakley (later named Didsbury’s man of the match) , pulled the strings from scrumhalf as he found close runners again and again to bombard the solid Upper Eden defensive line. Mark Harrison, Mike Hyde, Tony Ames and Andy Swan repeatedly carried well, but the hosts held firm. Upper Eden won a penalty inside their own half and looked to have missed the kick to touch only for the ball to take a Shane Warne style break and fall in touch close to the Didsbury tryline. From the resulting lineout the home side’s pack drove over for their third try of the match. Didsbury tried their best to regain some ground, but a turnover allowed space for Upper Eden to spread the ball to the wing to score their forth try and secure the bonus point.

The final score of 26-5 was maybe not what Didsbury’s second half effort deserved, but Upper Eden warranted their victory and Didsbury are still looking for their first win at the ground.
Next Saturday Didsbury welcome most people’s pre-season favourites Wigton to Ford Lane, 3pm kick off.