COVENTRY WELSH 8PTS, UPTON 15PTS

UPTON RFC created another bit of history for the second successive league Saturday.

Following on from their biggest league win they have now achieved their first league victory on Warwickshire soil.

Upton, who started with young Mike Dodge at No 10 making his first team debut, played uphill during the first half and it took a while for them to get the journey out of the system.

After 10 minutes Coventry Welsh worked the ball back from a ruck, passed it on the outside centre, who cut a good angle and ran in from 15 metres to score an unconverted try in the corner 5-0 Upton's response was immediate and they kept on driving the ball forward. After 15 mins Coventry Welsh found they could hold on no longer in a legal manner and Mike Dodge opened his and Upton's account with a converted penalty from 35 metres for 5-3.

Upton realised that the best method of attack was to move the ball around and move the Welsh's pack about the park. With a number of quick breaks up field and chip-kicks Welsh were kept on their back foot and were fortunate with a number of bounces going their way.

It was only a matter time before the bounce went Upton's way and on 35 minutes Alex Pimlow gathered the ball 40 metres out and shimmied his way pass four defenders to score an unconverted try in the corner for 5-8.

The first half finished with the home side being successful with a penalty kick for 8-all.

Upton restarted with the slope in their favour and it was obvious that Dodge was considered to be a danger and he was singled out for some special treatment' but he had the perfect answers with the way he got the line moving, with chip-kicks and clearance kicks.

Upton regained the lead on 50 minutes when Pimlow chased a chip downfield and caught the defence napping as he gathered the ball and sprinted in to score under the posts and Dodge converted for 8-15.

So at the half way mark of the league season Upton are in second place and hope that progress is maintained after the New Year and there is now good competition for selection.

6:08pm Wednesday 19th December 2007

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