UPTON travelled to Midlands Four West (South) favourites Claverdon after they missed promotion last season but it was the visitors who came away with an impressive 8-7 win.

With Adam Jones, Harry Stokes and Matthew Cock missing from the line-up as well as long-term injuries to Joe Ayres, Jake Varndall and Andy Ford, Upton were at the bare bones of a side but the heart shown by the Worcestershire side is beginning to develop.

Upton started down the hill and were soon having to reshuffle as second row Charlie Abbey left the pitch with a suspected broken foot.

This led to full-back Alex Flower moving to open-side and Matt Dunwell in as lock, Scott Forward slipped onto the wing with Sam Buck switching to full back.

Despite the reshuffle Upton were soon on the front foot and Chris O’Neil put them in the lead with a penalty and it remained at 3-0 until the interval.

Playing up the hill in the second half Upton knew in the warm conditions they would have to work hard and this they did.

Superb defence from 1 to 15 was the key as Claverdon struggled to break through.

Back row Nathan Tomkins was the stand-out tackler but George Ainge and Franco Bent in the centres did a sterling job.

However, Claverdon rumbled over in the corner and with the conversion led 7-3 with 10 minutes to go.

Upton never gave up and clinched victory with five minutes to go when Matt Dunwell scored in the corner.

O’Neil missed the conversion but it didn’t matter.