Upton spluttered to another victory in Midlands west 4 (south) on saturday.

Playing the side at the bottom of the league at home and after having beaten them well in Birmingham before Christmas Upton were probably guilty of expecting an easy afternoon, however missing the influential Price, Pimlow, Bookham and Banwell things would take time to gel.

Upton started the game poorly giving penalties away and being lazy at the ruck area and Kings Norton should have been leading 0-9 after being awarded three easy penalties but they only converted one. However as the half wore on they started to get to grips with the game and turn the oppostion defence with long kicks from Fly half Keyte. From one such move the ball was turned over by the home side and after charging runs from second row Jefferys and number 8 Mathie the ball was fed to skipper O'Neil, playing at outside centre who forced his way over for a try which he converted on the half time whistle to make the score 7-3.

The near veteran Heeley came on at half time to add some dynamism to the front row and Upton commanded the breakdown more efficiently in the second half but only had an O'Neil penalty to show for their efforts.

They also had to defend strongly for a large period of the half as Kings Norton tried to force their way to the line but their one dimensioanl attack was easy to repel and but for some strange referring decisions Upton could have put the game out of reach but had to settle for a small victory.

BACK