Match Report

North Midlands One League

 Saturday 5^th October 2002

 Upton - 10       Worcester Wanderers 12

 Both teams were fired up for this local derby and the game started with pace and urgency.  Unfortunately for the Wanderers their desire for an early score allowed an interception in the midfield by Upton who scored under the post in the 1^st minute of the game.  The try was converted by the Upton Captain, Rob Heeley, to give the home team the lead 7-0. 

The game continued with both teams determined to dominate, but the score remained unchanged and a penalty attempt by Wanderers Centre Joph Young sailed just wide of the uprights. 

The game was hard fought and with 6 minutes remaining of the half boiled over into a melee involving many of the players and left scrum half, Lee Watson with a gashed head, which put him off the pitch.  With Ben Clarke on as blood replacement Watson’s role was filled by Joph Young, who shortly started a move leading to Winger Tom Muir taking the ball on a short angle and driving 10 yards to take the ball over the line for a fine try.  Young converted levelling the score at 7-7. 

In time added for injury, just before the end of the first half, Upton were awarded a penalty against a Wanderers player handling in the ruck and Healey took his side in leading 10-7. 

The second half started at pace once again and within two minutes of the restart Upton were awarded another penalty.  This time Heeley’s accuracy was missing as it missed the post and failed to score. 

Wanderers experienced a period of defensive uncertainty, although their pack which had once again suffered in the first half, as it had against Bishops Castle in the Cup and Solihull in the League, lifted their game and took better control of the scrums and lineouts. 

Upton missed a number of opportunities to score, with the Wanderers unable to clear their line, but they failed to capitalise on their pressure in the Wanderers 22, despite having a strong wind behind them. 

The Wanderers then came close to a try at the end of the third quarter when the patched up Watson took a quick tap penalty and made a quick run, with an overlap, to the opposite side of the pitch, where only a marginally forward pass prevented Full Back Jim Callow from scoring. 

The Wanderers fitness started to make the difference between the two side in the last quarter of the game and the forwards pressure enabled a turnover ball at the half way line, allowed quick hands down the backs to left winger Mark Farmer who outpaced the Upton players to score an excellent try in the left corner.  Young failed to convert the score.  With the Wanderers leading 10-12 both sides played with zest until the final whistle, which earned the Wanderers a hard earned victory. 

This game was a testing time for both teams, who not only meet again in NM1 on 8^th February 2003, but also have a North Midlands Cup game to play before the end of the year (date to be arranged). 

The Wanderers take on Woodrush in NM1 at Sixways this coming Saturday (12.10.02).  The kick off is3.00pm and the team will be announced later this week.