UPTON were on their travels up the M5 and M42 again on Saturday to play Fiveways in the second round of the National Junior Cup competition.

FIVEWAYS 14pts, UPTON 12pts

Upton arrived expecting to face the usual type of Fiveways team with fast moving backs and big but slow moving forwards that grind out wins on a wet, 'sticky', energy sapping pitch.

Fiveways opened the scoring early in the match against the run of play when their forwards drove the ball upfield, kept the movement tight ignoring their backs and then prop Jones fell over the line to score a converted try making the score 7-0.

Upton played with spirit and stayed in opposition territory for lengthy periods but as last week were unable to break through the defence and Heeley missed two penalty attempts leaving the half time score unchanged.

After a request to 'up the pace' at the change round, Upton came back strongly and opened their scoring after two minutes when right wing Nigel Watson caught the ball on his '22' line, kicked ahead and followed up. He dispossessed his opposite number in the tackle, kicked on again and was first there to the touch down, 7-5.

Fiveways reverted to their usual play and their forwards kept them in the game but seldom got beyond the Upton ten metre line. However on 60 minutes they did advance further with several driving mauls and although Upton managed to repel one thrust they could not stop the secondary drive that led to number eight Rice scoring a converted try making the score 14-5.

Upton worked the ball wide in order to play an even more expansive game and the policy paid off when a superb handling move with prop Ed Whiteman created the overlap in the centre. Johnny Rose touched down for Heeley to convert to make the score 14-12.

With time now running out Upton needed another 'Houdini' act and winger Watson was so close to keeping the Upton dream alive. Number eight Nick Bennett caught a miscued clearance on the half way line and fed Watson who set off at great pace on a mazy run for the corner. He outpaced two covering defenders but the fullback stopped Watson just ten metres short of the line.

Upton's back row re-cycled the ball and drove on again but to their disgust Upton were adjudged to have gone offside and after the resulting penalty kick, the referee blew the final whistle - Twickenham dreams shattered for another year.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Upton are due to entertain Edwardians (3pm).