MANOR PARK 20pts, UPTON 12pts

UPTON travelled to their furthest away venue of the league season to Manor Park in Nuneaton and unfortunately failed to improve on their Warwickshire record but it was not for the want of trying.

Upton took the lead after 8 mins when No 10 Marek Willis made a break from half way and then Alex Pimlow wove his usual magic to run in a try under the posts and Willis converted.

Upton continued to mount attack after attack but were denied futher points due to losing the services of Willis through injury, losing possession at crucial times, luck in the tackle but mostly through the lack of consistency of the the man in the middle' in all areas of the game especially in his communication'.

By half time Park had got to within one point of Upton through two penalties to make it 6-7.

Manor Park came out with their tails up at the restart and soon scored a try to take the lead following several driving mauls by their pack for 11-7.

Upton showed the perfect response and there was going to be no try denial through an alleged forward pass or knock-on as Chris O'Neil gathered the ball 22 metres out and drove on to score in the corner.

That was the last of Upton's chances as they weren't allowed to get anywhere near the Park line and Park were gifted' three more penalties that took the score out to 20-12.

Despite the result, Manor Park proved good hosts on this our first time of meeting and Upton look forward to retuning the hospitality in the second half of the season - hopefully by then they shall have their changing and social facilities replaced and reopened Tomorrow (Saturday), Upton return to EDF Vase duty with a home tie against Painswick, KO at 2.15pm and then its two weeks of home league matches and a welcome return to the officiating of North Midlands referees.

5:36pm Wednesday 14th November 2007

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