Upton braved the elements and played their outstanding league game on Saturday despite most other games being cancelled. Having already cancelled this game just after Christmas due to frost they were keen to get this one played and although the first team pitch was still to hard the second team pitch was deemed playable.
After a mediocre game last week against one of the bottom sides the home side were determined to put in a better show this week.
Playing into the wind in the first half Upton slowly got to grips with their tenacious opponents and by half time had scored a couple of converted tries. With the pack dominating the set piece it took a while for the backs to find their running angles in slippery conditions. Firstly Skipper Chris O'Neil, back at Full Back for this game side stepped and then powered his way through a number of tackles to score the first before scrum half Raymond finished off a penalty move when prop Russell Price fed him close to the line. O'Neil converted both to make the score 14-0 at half time.
Upton stepped up a gear in the second half with the forwards running good lines off Fly half Keyte.
There was some de ja vu about the third try as Price took the ball from close quarters and fed Raymond again for his second score which O'Neil converted.
As the visitors tired more holes appeared in the defence. Number 8 Mathie stroll through a huge gap outside Keyte for Upton's fourth before O'Neil found space on half way and looked as if he would go all the way himself before being tackled 5 metres short but he was able to slip a back of the hand pass to right winger Flower for the fifth. Unfortunately O'Neil hit the post with his conversion to spoil a perfect day with the boot.
Upton rounded off the victory in the last minute when Keyte intercepted the ball 50 metres out and went as fast as he could to the line to score the sixth and final try which O'Neil converted.
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