Uppingham suffered their second defeat of the season, going down 17-22 to Bromsgrove in a bruising encounter.

In a battle between two traditional heavyweights of the school game, the match was always likely to be tight and so it proved.

Uppingham scrum half Jordan Dobney reports:

It was another beautiful day as the 1st XV stepped out onto L1 for the second time this season. We were eager to bounce back after a narrow defeat against Peterhouse the week before.

 

We knew from the start that we were up against it as their pack got the upper hand of us at Scrums and line-outs. It was a scrappy game with neither side really taking control of the match.

 

Some simple hands from the backs early on resulted in a good try from Ben Rymer on the wing and some good individual play from Freddie wilkinson put Joss Linney in for another try.

 

However once again we lost composure and along with that our shape and organisation towards the end and although we gave it our best with full commitment and tenacity to the finish, we were unable to pull it back, despite a well worked try by Jake Yeomans, and ended up on the receiving end of a 22-17 defeat.

 

For the second week in succession Uppingham have shown the ability to raise their game towards the finish, after almost clawing back a 19 point deficit last week, and this week scoring late on to give Bromsgrove a nervy finish.

It is an excellent trait to have, and if they can acquire the habit of starting games at the same tempo that they finish, they will become a very formidable side.

The hot conditions will have played a part in their loss of shape late on, but they needn’t worry as the temperatures are only going to drop between now an the end of the season, and clearly they are fitter than most given their late rallies.

Both sides face tough fixtures again this week as Bromsgrove take on a Warwick side who ran rugby giants, Millfield, pretty close at the weekend. This is a Bromsgrove side on the crest of a wave though, inspired by seeing Old Boy Ben Foden’s progress, a win is well within their grasp.

Uppingham, meanwhile, face a Bedford side who were run very close at Oundle on Saturday. A formidable looking side with some big ball carries, in particular Number 8 Lyons, they will pose a threat.

Uppingham should take heart though from Bedford’s fixture at Oundle, where their set piece crumbled at crucial times, and Oundle came back incredibly strongly in the last ten minutes, something Uppingham are becoming experts in.

Uppingham Team:

15. Linney 14. Rymer 13. Wilkinson 12. Jackson 11. Arden 10. Ramsden 9. Dobney 1. Coleman 2. Moffit 3. Yeomans 4. Clark 5. Sale 6. Burles 7. Wilson 8. Bell

Replacements:

16. Robinson 17. Barwell