FEARS were raised ahead of Saturday's trip to Rolls Royce that Uttoxeter might be taking the Midlands Four East (North) strugglers too lightly.

Andrew Moult, Mike Conlon and James Williams were all kept out of the starting XV as a protective measure ahead of tomorrow's Midlands Vase semi-final, while Tim Carr was also unavailable due to work commitments.

Despite missing the quartet of regulars, Uttoxeter still ran in nine tries.

However, Uttoxeter's coaches will have been concerned that the majority of the away side's scores came from breakaways and individual efforts.

Uttoxeter put the home side under pressure from the start, forcing Rolls Royce to concede a scrum on their own five-metre line.

The visitors won their scrum and Chris Owen span the ball out to the backs.

Fly-half Lee Bloor fed Pete Allen and the centre smashed through the gain line before going under the posts for the opening points of the match.

Steve Harris converted to make the score 7-0 after just two minutes.

From the kick-off, Uttoxeter secured the ball in their 22.

Owen passed to winger Paul Milward, who showed excellent pace to sprint up the outside and weave through several would-be tacklers.

With one man to beat, Milward returned the ball to Owen, but the scrum-half fumbled the catch.

From the scrum, Royce won the ball, but were unable to clear effectively and sliced the ball just a few metres forward, where Davies gathered.

The ball travelled through hands to James Gill, who off-loaded in the tackle for Andy Gagie to score.

Uttoxeter showed some poor discipline in response to Rolls Royce's first attack and conceded a penalty inside their own 22.

The kicker was on target to make the score 12-3.

Play then deteriorated over the next 10 minutes as both sides made a series of errors and were unable to put together any phases.

Donald Hayes and Steve Woolley worked hard on the fringes and their efforts paid off when Uttoxeter eventually got the score-sheet ticking over again on 30 minutes.

Rob Scragg stole the ball in the line-out on Uttoxeter's 10-metre line and it was recycled to Paul Milward, who found Mat Nance.

The towering flanker spotted a half gap and carved through the defensive line for a 65-metre individual effort to make the score 17-3.

In Uttoxeter's first opportunity after the break, Mike Davies picked up from the scrum and ran with the ball.

He took contact, but from the ruck Owen then sent the ball wide to Allen, who drew a defender before releasing Gill.

With one man to beat, Gill opted to go around the outside and had too much pace for his opposite man – sprinting in from some 70 metres to score.

Harris's conversion gave Uttoxeter a lead of 24-3.

The visitors scored again shortly after the restart.

Tom Lampitt caught the ball from the kick-off and took contact.

Uttoxeter retained possession and Owen released Bloor, who kicked into Rolls Royce's half. The home side's winger gathered, but was caught by Allen. The ball then reached prop Dan Meads, who thundered forward and was caught just a few feet short of the try-line.

However, possession was quickly recycled by Woolley and Owen again fed the ball out to Bloor.

This time, Bloor opted to go himself and danced through the remaining defenders before forcing himself over the line in the corner.

Another Harris conversion put the game well and truly safe at 31-3.

Shortly after, Bloor suffered an injury and was replaced by debutant Mike Paling.

Uttoxeter looked to have scored again following some excellent hands through the backs.

Owen and Allen were both involved before the ball found its way to Milward, who ran through before passing to the unmarked Gill, who had the simple task of touching down.

The referee initially awarded the try, but consulted the touch judge, who deemed the pass forward.

From a line-out, Pilcher charged forward, before the ball was recycled.

Allen took over and was caught, but was able to pass to Davies.

The number eight blasted his way through to touch down between the posts for another converted score.

From the restart, Royce's fly-half picked out replacement Craig Berks, on for the injured Scragg, who secured the catch before sprinting forward.

He beat three tacklers and made vital yards before being brought to ground.

The ball then found its way out wide again and Gagie passed out to Milward who had looped around off his wing, who in turn found Gill.

Again Gill opted for the outside and beat the first man. The winger had one defender to beat and executed a dummy pass to leave the full-back in his tracks and then sprinted in from inside his own half to touch down for his second try, giving Uttoxeter a 43-3 lead.

The home side then got on the score-sheet following a series of blunders from Uttoxeter.

Initially, they won a penalty and opted to run with the ball.

Rolls Royce made vital yards, but the ball bobbled loose in contact and was picked up by Milward, who attempted to pass his way out of trouble, but missed his target.

Owen then attempted to flick the loose ball away, but was wayward and the ball bounced towards Uttoxeter's try line.

Rolls Royce pounced on the loose ball and quickly moved forward.

Tackles from Owen and Gill slowed play, but the ball was recycled out to Rolls Royce's fly-half.

Uttoxeter failed to establish a solid defensive line and the fly-half was able to sprint through and under the posts for a converted try to make the score 43-10.

Uttoxeter responded with an excellent forwards try.

From a line-out, a maul was set up and the ball found its way to Berks.

He marshalled the pack forward and over the line and touched down for the final points of the match.