AFTER an encouraging draw away to Old Griffinians the previous week, the leaders of Upton's parallel league north, the team faced Ross-on-Wye, another unbeaten team at the top of their league.
UPTON 1ST XV 20pts, ROSS-ON-WYE 5pts
Upton travelled to Ross during the autumn international period with a weakened side and were on the end of a 25-0 thumping against a big home side.
However, with two home league games coming up, Upton fielded a strong 1st XV.
The forward battle was always going to play a key role in the game but Upton perhaps surprisingly out-muscled their bigger opponents from the start. With scrum and line-out going well and Upton just about winning the rucks, quick ball was available and this allowed fly-half Tether to release the backs, with outside-centre Caldwell particular impressive.
From a constructive period of play where they ball was kept alive and driven on well by all players, the backs fed the ball quickly along the line and left-winger Rich Mills touched down. Heeley converted for 7-0.
Heeley soon followed this with a penalty before an almost identical second try. Driving runs from Rob Wynn and Matt Bookham set up quick ruck ball. However, with fly half Tether down injured Hooker Rob Heeley stood in at ten and floated a miss pass outside to full-back Pimlow who released Mills. This time the winger had a little more to do but rounded his opposite number with ease. 15-0.
Upton started the second half quietly but dealt easily with anything Ross threw at them particularly in the midfield where Max Edwards and Caldwell were rock solid.
The Ross coaching team threw on their three South Africans and immediately put Upton on the back foot so much so that the big No.8 barged over for a score 15-5.
To Upton's credit they raised their effort and defended strongly for the next 10 minutes. As the home side slowly moved down field the next score came. From a scrum in their 22 Ross failed to find touch.
Upton's replacement winger Brett Carson-Brown ran the ball back and passed out of contact to Tether who only had time to flick the ball onto Edwards. The big centre then showed great awareness by fizzing a miss pass to Pimlow who glided in from 40 metres, beating three defenders.
These last two performances give Upton great confidence for their next two games, both league games and both at home to Bredon and Redditch respectively. Support is greatly appreciated.
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