A CHARITY rugby match at Kidderminster Carolians raised the bar to collect almost three times its £2,000 target for Cancer Research UK (CRUK).

Organiser Neil Evans, of Bewdley, said it was an “emotional” moment when he saw the giant cheque for £5,200, with the promise of more still to come in.

He attracted 50 players - past and present - from clubs across the Midlands, Gloucestershire and Wales to play under the name The Nags against a Kidderminster RFC Select XV.

The Nags won 32-25, in weather ranging from brilliant sunshine to monsoon-type rain.

Rugby-mad Mr Evans said: “The result wasn’t so important but the rugby was of an unbelievable quality and played in a good spirit.”

He added that the generosity of those who took part, who provided raffle prizes and came to watch, was “amazing”.

Mr Evans, of Northwood Lane, had expected about 20 players but after promoting the game on facebook he finished with 50, each playing three 30-minute thirds with five subs.

They had to raise a minimum of £50 to play although several raised into the hundreds.

Mr Evans came up with the charity game idea after being part of a team pulling a narrowboat, also called The Nags, 30 miles from Birmingham to Worcester in October, 2012 to raise almost £5,000 for CRUK.

The rugby team is now looking forward to playing biennially for the cancer charity and is planning its next fixture in Lampeter, Wales, in 2016.

Mr Evans, who expects the final total to be close to £6,000, is passionate about raising money for CRUK following the death of his grandmother from breast cancer several years ago.

Anyone wishing to add to the total can do so at www.justgiving.com/nagsrugby