Uppies and Downies 2023: Uppies take the final win of the series

Following two wins over Easter the teams faced off in Workington on Saturday night for the final game with just pride to play for for the Downies.

The game got underway at 6.30pm as Jamie Lee Adams threw the ball off at Cluffocks.

The ball instantly went down the river into a scrum however it flew across the river as one youngster snatched it and sprinted away up the car park. One person shouted: "That's it, Uppies have won."

Jamie Lee Adams prepares to throw the ball (Image: Tom Kay)

However the scrum was held at a standstill in the car park once both teams caught up to the runaway ball as the crowds got lively with chants of "Come on Uppies!" and "Come on Downies."

Uppies made another advance up the car park and then over the fence. Many shoes started making an appearance in the air at this point - it wouldn't be Uppies and Downies if some people left with one less shoe.

After not so long the game ended up in the beck. The Downies pushed back at this point using the beck to their advantage. The scrum held pretty still despite movements on the beck.

The scrum made movements but remained partially in the beck amidst chants from both sides. Later, the ball pushed towards the leisure centre and then had a swing back and forth up the car park before entering the water again.

The scrum then made a push up towards the top of the car park. After movements of stillness and small movements, Uppies made another big up the car park again, before the ball entered the beck again. The ball then moved towards the car park then knocked back into the leisure centre.

In the midst of the scrum... (Image: Tom Kay)

The ball then made movements towards the trees in front of the bingo. Shouts for both sides echoed throughout the game, whether they were at a standstill or sprinting.

Uppies made advancements towards the bridge, until Downies pushed back down the car park. As Uppies advanced again, their chants got much louder.

The ball entered the beck again and made advances up the river. Downies gathered on the wall of the cricket club hoping to catch the ball and sprint. As Uppies push towards the police station, and Downies call in extra players, the crowd doesn't quiet down.

Uppies push across the main road and finally the ball was hailed just before 10.30pm.

The hailer was Declan Newman. Uppies celebrated their 3-0 win in style as chants erupted. Both Joe Clark, a legend of the game and Mark Rawlinson, the ball maker, joined in on the celebrations.