Evesham 17, Upton-upon-Severn 29.

UPTON were crowned Midlands Three West (South) champions after this impressive final game of the season.

Despite dominating the division for much of the campaign, they still needed a point from this game to secure the league title.

However, in blistering conditions, they sealed it before half-time with a four-try rampage.

Evesham have got themselves up to fourth this season with a strong second half to the season and Upton were wary of their young pacy backs and pack.

The hosts started brightly and were sniffing for a try in the first minutes, but Upton were ferocious at the breakdown and never allowed Evesham any real chance of quick attacking ball.

It took the Old Street side 20 minutes to really get into their attacking game as things were not helped by the loss of prop Russell Price and wing Martin Muleko to injury, the latter after a try-saving tackle on the Upton line. They were replaced by youngsters James Mitchell and Max Macfarlane.

Eventually, though, Upton started to show why they were going to be crowned champions. They started to drive the ball up through the forwards most notably through Anderson, Boulton and Guy Field and quick recycling of the ball was allowing scrum-half Alex Pimlow to feed Matthew Cock who was dictating the game.

The first try came when Upton sucked in the Evesham defence through some storming runs up the middle of the pitch and the ball was moved along the line.

This led to Mike Dodge scythed through to score in the corner. He missed the subsequent conversion.

The visitors soon scored a second try when once again they moved themselves up field through a combination of drives and penalties from the home side.

Rob Heeley took over the throwing as Liam Moloney had an injured hand.

Chris Thomas took the ball in the middle of the line-out and, after driving towards the line, Anderson peeled off the back of the maul to score. Dodge missed the conversion.

Upton’s third was almost identical. Once again they made their way into the bottom left-hand corner and, after a series of rucks, Anderson went blind and powered over for his second try. Dodge converted to make it 17-0.

Upton’s fourth, bonus point try and title-clinching one came just before half-time. Dan Aldersey ran a set move off Cock in the midfield but was tackled 10 metres out.

Upton drove the ensuing maul and as Evesham tried to stop it, Pimlow slipped the ball out to John Hall who dummied his way over the line to make the half-time score 22-0.

Paul Hannah replaced Anderson at the interval which meant Upton had already used their full quota of substitutes and a mistake by the former from the kick-off gave their opponents a scrum.

Pimlow gave away a penalty and from the resultant drive from the line-out Evesham powered over for an unconverted try.

Upton got their lead back up to the level it was at half-time straight away.

Rich Mills made a break in the centre and went round two attempted tackles before being held up short of the line.

Moloney was on hand to scoop up the ball and dive over for a fifth converted try.

But as Upton tired, Evesham scored two late tries.