Upton had one of their shortest journeys this season for a league match when they travelled to Tenbury. The spring day provided a variety of weather conditions with rain, hail, wind and sun but fortunately the good ground conditions were idea for running the ball.

Upton kicked off with a slight following wind and Alex Pimlow took only 3mins to find a chink in the Tenbury armour as the ball was spun along the line and Pimlow opened his legs and sped in under the posts from 40 metres and Micheal Dodge added the extra points

Tenbury came back on the attack and young No.10 Matt Burke made several thrusts and tested the Upton defence but it held firm and when they turned over the ball they counter attacked and carried play into the Tenbury half and when they infringed, Dodge converted the penalty to increase Upton's lead

Upton were in control in all areas and debutant first XV hooker Rob Walker was 'hitting' his man in the line-outs, winning his own scrum ball and was using his strength in the loose. Upton were looking particular dangerous when the ball was moved wide and before half time left winger Will Carr had scored two tries wide out after good linking between the forwards and backs

The second half was very similar to the first with the ball being moved across the field and it was not long before Pimlow and fellow centre Richard Mills had shown their pace in order to score a try apiece and Dodge added the conversions

Tenbury were not taking the defeat lightly and are to be commended for the way they kept on trying to get some points and they were rewarded when young Burke stormed over and then converted

Upton were not finished and it was not long before their international second row Nigel Arismandez was making inroads into the opposition territory but try as he may he could not get himself a try before leaving for the Cayman Isles in readiness for the next World Cup qualifiers. The last try came from the speed man Pimlow who again showed a clean pair of heels to claim his hat-trick and skipper Chris O'Neil added the conversion

So another league season has drawn to an end but this time with promotion for Upton in what has been a momentous time in several ways. There have been no home amenities following the pavilion being flooded last July, the return from serious injury for the war horse Oli Jones, the emergence of young Michael Dodge and sadly the untimely deaths of Robin Foley and Justin Morton. In memory of Morts and Robin, Upton are holding a major fund raising event for St Richard's Hospice on Sunday 20 April with a kick off at 2.30. The Upton team is being put together by Mort's good friends Tim Badger, Dave Gower, Mark Tether, Brad Raymond, Anthony Strutton and others and will be composed of players who knew Morts, played with Morts and coached by Robin. A lot of money should be raised through an auction of a large number of gifts (including;- a golf day, golf equipment, meat, car service, mobile phone, shower, oil tank, tools) all that have been very generously donated, a raffle and a pig roast. The opposition will come from mainly Ledbury and Bromyard players again who knew and played against Morts who still constantly in our thoughts.

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