UPTON Rugby Club began the New Year in the same vein as 2001 - with a victory.

The home side proved too hot to handle for Bishops Castle in a 16-13 win which moved them up to sixth in North Midlands One.

After a five week break from matches, due to Christmas and weather problems, Upton started slowly.

However, after a number of drives, they were 3-0 up on 15 minutes when Rob Heeley slotted a penalty.

The skipper was again on target, 10 minutes later, to make it 6-0 but Upton suffered a double blow soon after when their two centres - Brad Raymond and Hugh Williams - had to leave the field after colliding.

The injuries, however, could not prevent Heeley from making it 9-0 just before half time.

Playing with the slope and increasing wind in the second period, Bishops Castle came out much stronger and Price's two penalties made it 9-6 early on.

Upton weathered the storm with sniping runs from scrum-half Matt Mitchell and clever linking play and kicks by Mark Tether and Heeley, but they were further disrupted when flanker Ben Penson had to be replaced by Oli Jones.

On 60 minutes, Upton increased their lead when, from a line-out on the left side of midfield, the ball was worked to right wing Nigel Watson. Raymond linked up with centre Heeley who passed on to Neil Caldwell before the winger finished a fine move. Heeley converted to make it 16-6.

Any thoughts that Bishops Castle would now give up were quickly dispelled as they changed tactics by driving the ball up to Upton's line.

Upton held out for a time but eventually Castle's scrum-half Jones dived over from a five metre scrum to score a converted try. This brought the scores to 16-13.

In Division Two, Worcester Wanderers won 17-13 at Clee while, a division lower, Greyhound beat Bewdley 26-0.