UPTON surged through to the RFU Midlands Senior Vase third round with a 47-10 triumph at Aston Old Edwardians.

After a bye at the first stage, the confident Old Street side travelled to inner-city Birmingham.

Aston Old Edwardians, in the parallel league to Midlands Three West (South) side Upton, have not had a good season so far.

However, it was evident before the game the atrocious weather conditions would eliminate many of the advantages Upton hoped to hold.

With four players heading to Twickenham for the England game, they put Chris O’Neil in the back row and Ali Hills back at centre.

Upton began brightly, running the ball around the backs after the forwards created quick ball at the breakdown.

Within 10 minutes, Upton were 19 points up after three 50-metre tries.

On each occasion, surging runs from the back row of Dan Hart, Max Macfarlane and O’Neil, who bagged the first try, punched holes in the defence.

For the second two, Upton were tackled five metres short but quick recycling allowed Hills and then player-coach Stuart Brooks to score.

O’Neil converted two of the tries for a handsome lead.

However, Upton took their foot off the gas and were not helped when they lost both prop Sam Ball and the impressive O’Neil in one tackle.

Aston sent on replacements with one appearing to stamp on hooker Harry Stokes and then place his fingers near the eyes of the same player.

Stokes reacted and was showned a yellow card.

From the resulting penalty, Aston took a quick tap and surged through to score an unconverted try.

Upton knew at half-time they had to get their discipline back, but were increasingly frustrated as they felt the referee was not managing foul play or the breakdown.

Hills was sent to the sin-bin and Chris Thomas followed for scuffling with the same Aston player to make it 15 against 13 men.

With Upton also carrying a few walking wounded, the hosts scored a second try to cut the deficit to 19-10.

It took calmness from the more experienced operators, such as like Rob Heeley and Dan Keyte, to weather the storm.

When back up to a full complement of players, Upton put the game to bed with four more tries.

Macfarlane scored two, with one following a 70-metre break, while Martin Muleko and Alex Flower also dived over.

With O’Neil injured and off the pitch, Hart kicked all four conversions from under the posts.

Upton head to mid-table Shipston-on-Stour in the league on Saturday and Ledbury host basement boys Harbury.

Bromyard return to action in a Herefordshire derby at Hereford side Greyhound in Midlands Four West (North).

Newent moved into the RFU Gloucestershire Intermediate Cup final on November 29 at Tribute Western Counties North title rivals Coney Hill.

Bristol Saracens called off their semi-final last weekend, allowing the Recreation Ground outfit to progress.

Newent host fellow high-fliers Chew Valley in the league on Saturday.