Unbeaten run comes to an and in Worcestershire

Not since Park went down 24-17 at home to Woodrush in the penultimate game of the 2014/15 campaign had they suffered a loss – but like that day, a losing bonus point was salvaged.
Upton trailed the league leaders by 14 points before kick off and narrowed that gap to 11 points with five games remaining each in the Midlands 4 West South title race.
The hosts were playing on their home pitch for first time in 2016 after flooding issues and although damp in areas, the surface compared favourably to some of the horror surfaces endured this season.
Without the services of Jordan Rice, Michael Kemp and Gaz Hammond – Matt Marston, Dan Green and Dave Hickey came into the starting line up.
Only five minutes were on the clock when the visitors were celebrating a try.
With an advantage being played by the referee, scrum-half Will Woodward opted to go blind and Dave Melville did well to draw two defenders and pop to Hickey.
Playing his first game since mid-December, Hickey juggled the ball before securing and bundling over the line.
The lead last just ten minutes as Upton-on-Severn secured line out ball for the first time, avoiding the destructive work of Charlie Wilson, to drive powerfully over the line. The Upton kicker, from a suspiciously advanced infield position, nailed the tricky conversion which would prove crucial.
Manor’s front row was causing Upton all sorts of problems but it was one of the few positives to be salvaged from a poor first half.
On a rare entry into the Upton 22, winger Jonny Hincks finished off a move under great pressure but his try was not spotted by the official. To make matters worse, he broke a rib in the process and his season may be over.
Melville spent 10 minutes in the bin midway through the first half for repeated infringements, but it was Upton who ended the half a man short after a tip tackle on Chris Goode.
The second half saw Upton dig in and hold on to their two-point advantage, with their full back sitting extremely deep and returning kicks with interest. Upton’s fly-half kicked intelligently behind Park’s back line earning vital field position and forcing handling errors.
Manor had three further opportunities to win the game in the final ten minutes. Simon Hall leapt on a loose ball five metres from the line but from the recycle a handling error let Upton off the hook.
Callum Bishop missed an opportunity to add to his 132 points this season when his penalty was pulled just wide of the left upright.
And top try-scorer Joe Graham cantered into the opposition 22 but he lacked support and was well thwarted by the covering defence.
Huge credit must go to the application of the Upton players to strangle Park’s creativity with intelligent kicking and ferocious, organised and hungry defence.
For head coach Kevin Venus’ side, it’s time to regroup and sharpen minds as a league and cup double is still possible. Next up is a clash with Coventry Welsh at Bedworth RFC on Sunday in the semi-final of the Warwickshire Vase.