IT was a shocking pitch in shocking condition that was awaiting Upton seconds at Redditch on Saturday.

REDDITCH II 39pts, UPTON-UPON-SEVERN 5pts

The weather had turned the 'temporary' first team pitch into something more like a quagmire, with the referee considering its abandonment, flowing, total rugby was off the menu.

The game started as it was to continue with unsurprisingly too many handling errors from both sides, the larger than average Redditch pack utilising their weight advantage and Upton's quick, penetrating backs unable to make headway up the incline in the first half.

It was the weight and experience in the Redditch pack that was the catalyst for most of the first half action. Playing down the hill, the scrummage was something Upton were unable to come to terms with throughout the game, invariably losing ball on the Redditch put in, and more often that not being eased off the 'mud enveloped' ball on their own put in. The home pack gave the backs the quality of ball they needed, Upton centres Dodge and Mills putting in overtime in the tackling department, but eventually being unable to repel the relentless advances.

Two push over tries and two good backs moves gave Redditch a 24 point lead at the half time break, with Upton hardly challenging the Redditch 22.

Playing downhill in the second half however Upton had some hope and ambition and proved to be much more encouraging.

Driving runs by Upton forwards Hill, Hunt and Williams showed that Upton could dent this Redditch defence and at times the handling of Jarrod, Ben and captain Slocombe made a mockery of the horrendous conditions.

It was following a concerted period of pressure by Upton in the Redditch 22 that the first score in the second half was logged.

Against the run of play the ball squirted out of a maul to the Redditch winger who managed to find secure footing to run in a fine solo try.

This seemingly spurred Upton on and they came back more determined than before. In the next play the drives of Tomlinson, Breakwell and Daniel finally began breaking the first up tackles, giving the beguiling Scott the space he needed to set up the ever impressive Mills to go over for the try in the corner. Slocombe narrowly missing the conversion.

Redditch, making several substitutions, gained the initiative in the next play turning an Upton scrum, stealing the ball and the pack again driving over for a final try, duly converted.

Again Upton came back and were unlucky not to finish the game with a try following a delicate chip and catch by Williams.

Tomlinson being finally put away only to be defeated by the weight of his mud-laden boots, stumbling short of the line.

ShandyBass man of the match was Tim Dodge.