Twelve months ago flooded pitches caused problems for both teams but this time the conditions at Upton were idea for the many spectators to witness some open running rugby with the teams being 2nd and 3rd in the league- the only slight drawback was a lowering sun shining into the eye.

Upton kicked off down the slope with 39 year old birthday boy Richard Jones making his 1st XV debut after many years with the club. The first minutes resulted in both teams sousing out the opposition and each kicking a penalty- Upton through skipper Chris O'Neil 3-3

Pershore gradually realised that the only way forward for them was to utilise their bigger forwards to keep the ball tight in order to grind down Upton. On 15 minutes Pershore worked their way to the Upton 22 so sucking in defenders before releasing their winger to score the first converted try 3-10

Upton continued to play the open rugby only for Pershore to regain the ball and bully their way back upfield. Upton got back on level terms on 25 mins when Pershore were penalised on Upton's try line. Knowing that Pershore had no real pace in their backs, Dan Keyte took a quick tap kick and passed to centre Alex Pimlow who rounded his defender and stroll to the try line at the other end of the field for Keyte to convert the try 10-10

Pershore relied on their forwards for the rest of the half and both props scored converted tries from short drives, one set up by a lineout take by Toby Grace and another from a five metre scrum to give a half time score of 10- 24

Pershore kicked off the second half with the same bully tactics and Upton did well to hold out for so long. There were some massive tackles and great defensive work from the whole of Upton but especially from the back-row of Oli Jones, Adam Heath and Luke Mathie and also from full back Chris O'Neil. On 55 minutes Pershore No 8 Martin Hope scored a converted try from a lineout on Upton's 5 metre line 10-31

Upton used their replacements well and put on 'fresh legs' and they still kept throwing the ball around and soon put the frighteners on Pershore as they ran in two quick tries. The first came as Pimlow again ran through the opposition to score and Keyte converted. 17-31

The try of the game though came as Pershore tried to kick their way down field. Left winger Dan Aldersey fielded the ball on his 10 metre line about 10 metres in from touch. He used his speed to go outside his opposite number, then after another 20 metres he kicked ahead and he started to follow up only to be taken out late by two Pershore players. However Pimlow had been supporting and sprinted up to wrestle the ball from two covering Pershore players and ran on score his hat-trick try. Keyte converted 24 -31

For the last 15mins Pershore kept the ball tight and Upton's tiring players finally succumbed to another converted try by Hope following a driven maul 24- 38

Brawn did succeed on this occasion (as with F1 this season) but the crowd were kept on their toes by Upton and with local rugby like this who needs to go to watch Premiership rugby.

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