UPTON went into their final home North Midlands (South) One league match of the season intent on exacting revenge for the result of the reverse fixture at the start of the season.

UPTON 15pts, KINGS NORTON 14pts

On that day Kings Norton score the winning try in the eighth minute of injury time and have been in the promotion hunt ever since.

Upton chose to play downhill into the strong wind first and the signs looked ominous when Kings Norton scored two converted tries, following sloppy covering, inside the first 15 minutes.

Upton fought hard to get into the Norton territory but were repelled by the long intelligent searching kicks from their young stand-off Wigley. Upton had to rely on tried and tested tactics of letting the forwards make headway through control of the line-outs and rucks and mauls before letting the backs free. These tactics worked well but Upton were held up when over the line or turn-overs gave the ball to Norton who were then able to put in relieving kicks downfield so the half time score remained at 0-14.

Although the wind had dropped a great deal, Upton came out all fired-up and Kings seldom got into Upton's territory but their defence held firm for a long time.

Upton's first points came after 55 minutes when full-back Alex Pimlow went on one of his mazy runs. He caused so much mayhem to Norton that they took out the supporting player. As a result, Norton's No 8 saw a different view of the game for 10 minutes from the sin bin.

Upton kicked for position in the corner and won the lineout five-metres from the Kings' line. The forwards drove for the line and Rob Heeley joined the maul and was accredited the try to make it 5-14.

Kings Norton were shaken by this score and there was visual and oral discord in their ranks which increased 10 minutes later when Upton's backs weaved their magic again to cause more mayhem in their opponents defence and Brad Raymond burst through to score under the posts and Heeley converted for 12-14.

The visiting supporters were none to happy as the scores narrowed and things were not going their way. Upton showed maturity and patience as they bided their time for the chance to get revenge. Deep into injury-time Kings Norton transgressed near to touch and on their 10 metre line no doubt thinking that the distance was too great for Heeley's boot to kick the required points. However Upton called up their secret weapon, Chris O'Neill who has put in time on the practice ground after training for just such an event or when Heeley is not available. Calmly O'Neill kicked the ball cleanly between the posts to put Upton ahead 15-14.

Upton supporters' hearts started to race as there was still time for Norton to come back. Norton's pace increased considerably which was possibly their undoing as they lost another line-out and then proceeded to knock-on at the next one which gave Heeley the chance to clear for touch from the resultant scrum to end the game.

Revenge was gained and the chances are that the two teams will face each other in the league next year as this result has probably halted Norton's promotion. Upton go fourth ahead of Redditch who have games in hand.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Upton travel to table topping Cleobury Mortimer for their last league game of the season and then follows a number of friendly matches.