UPTON kept up their promotion hunt with a tight 6-3 win over Manor Park in Midlands Five West (South).

The floods forced Upton to move from their usual home to Hanley Castle High School.

They suffered one of only two league defeats at Manor Park in November and the Nuneaton side had won five games in a row.

The visitors kicked off down the slope and put the pressure on Upton to defend their line with a series of forward drives and touch kicks.

But the hosts could hold out no longer and Williams converted a penalty from 20 metres on nine minutes to give Manor Park the lead.

Upton got to terms with their new home pitch and gradually moved more into Manor territory.

But Park's bigger forwards were a stubborn bunch and did not take lightly to being pushed back towards their line.

Upton were fighting hard to overcome the slope and slippery conditions.

Despite finding the ball like a bar of soap, they still tried to pass the ball about but it proved difficult.

On the half-hour mark, Upton's work was rewarded when Park were caught entering the ruck from the side and Mike Dodge converted the penalty.

Park realised they had to make better use of the slope advantage but ended the first-half with a missed penalty kick.

With the slope in their favour for the second-half, Upton introduced Luke Mathie, back from Australia, into the frame.

The heavier Park forwards tired in the increasingly muddy conditions and relied on illegal defensive measures.

Dodge missed a 40-metre penalty but found his feet to land a shorter kick five minutes later.

The last 15 minutes saw Upton on the attack but Park held out to prevent any further score.