THE pressure was all on Upton for Saturday's home game against North Midlands division one champions Evesham.

UPTON 13pts, EVESHAM 5pts

If Upton were to go into the promotion play-offs, then they had to at least match Kings Norton's result to stay in second place. The touch-line was packed with jovial, expectant supporters and on a bright sunny day coats were necessary to give protection from the strong westerly wind blowing straight of the Malvern Hills.

Evesham kicked-off with the wind behind them and the ball went deep into Upton territory. The ball was caught cleanly and Upton started to drive back towards the halfway line. Here, Evesham stole the ball close to the left hand touchline and sent it quickly through the hands to speedy winger Ben Holmes, who beat his man and ran on to touch down for an unconverted try after less than two minutes.

Skipper Oli Jones stirred up his team and Upton were unlucky not to score straight away but winger Chris O'Neill was pulled down just short of the line after a passage of good passes. This early phase seemed to set the tone for the game with both teams trying to play fast open rugby. Play went from end to end with Evesham using the following wind occasionally and then Upton having to use their forward power to set up the backs.

After 38 minutes, Evesham's No 8 was forced to take an early rest in the sin for persistent illegal play and Upton duly took advantage. Hooker Rob Heeley kicked for position and from the resultant line-out 10 metres out, Upton caught and drove on over the line where loose head prop Ed Whiteman, refreshed from his spell in the Australian sun, emerged with the ball to claim Upton's equalising unconverted try for 5-all.

The half-time whistle gave everyone the chance to take on liquids for the decisive second-half, especially knowing that King's Norton were in the lead.

Mark Tether restarted the match for Upton with a neat kick just over the 10 metre line to put Evesham under pressure and they cleared for touch. Upton won the line-out and Melvyn Hill led the drive and Evesham were caught infringing. Heeley converted the penalty to give Upton an 8-5 lead.

Upton continued to play an expansive game with scrum-half Brad Raymond darting here and there before releasing the ball to Alex Pimlow, Max Edwards and Neil Caldwell where they carved openings for the supporting players to carry the ball further. Evesham for their part were also still trying to open up their game but both defences were holding firm, Upton with the best defensive record in the league.

Upton's back-row of Oli Jones, Matt Bookham and James Daniell performed well in their support play but with the defences so tight it was going take something special to get through. That came from a 'scrum five' with Upton attacking after the ref was unable to see the ball being grounded. Upton won the scrum, the scrum wheeled slightly left and everyone expected Raymond to pass out to the right to the waiting backs. Instead Raymond picked up, used the offset scrum as a shield to give himself more room and went left to touch down an unconverted try with three defenders unable to stop his advance 13-5.

That left 20 minutes of normal time on the clock and although there was a few anxious moments, and 17 minutes of injury time, Upton held on to the lead and so finished the season in second place.

Upton travel to Dunlop Coventry on April 29 to contest the play-off where the winner will gain promotion alongside Evesham.