THE last time Upton played Dunlop, three years ago in an end-of-season league play-off, they got thumped.

This time around, with Dunlop flying high at the top end of the Midlands Four West (South) table with four wins out of four, Upton were wary of a similar pasting.

Their fears were unfounded though as a superb team display earnt the home side a 31-17 victory that moved them to fourth in the table.

When the two sides last met, Dunlop were a young, talented side with a few old heads. However, as they warmed up prior to the most recent clash, it was evident the youth was still there, but they seemed to be lacking the experience.

This was something veteran Upton prop Sean Lancett cottoned onto as he rallied the forwards into a barnstorming display.

Dunlop looked to go on the offensive from the start and span the ball wide, but Upton’s outside-centre Cameron Pimlow intercepted on his own 22 and ran in the score. Dan Keyte converted.

Upton’s forwards rucked and defended ferociously and, combined with strong defence out wide, kept the visitors at bay.

From a line-out 35 metres out, Upton prop Russell Price peeled off and broke a tackle before off-loading to scrum-half Raymond, who burst through a further two tackles to score under the posts.

Keyte converted again to make it 14-0.

Dunlop soon got on the board with a try from a quick tap-penalty, but Upton regained their advantage after patient build-up play allowed quick ball to be fed to the backs.

Full-back Chris O’Neil burst through a tackle 30 metres out and raced in to score to make the half-time score 21-5.

Upton’s half-time talk revolved around not having a lull period and that certainly did not happen as they scored immediately from the re-start.

A kick downfield was expertley chased by winger Alex Flower, who tackled the oppostion full-back to set up a ruck.

The clearance kick didn’t make touch and Will Carr fed openside Nigel Banwell, who passed to blinside Jones, who barged his way over to score.

Upton soon put the game beyond Dunlop’s reach as, from a sharp line-out, fly-half Keyte sold two dummies before feeding O’Neil who broke the tackle again and raced for the line.

It looked like he would put Flower in at the corner, but the defence covered the winger and let O’Neil stroll in to make it 31-5.

Upton took their foot off the gas in the last 20 minutes as they were forced to make changes at scrum-half, wing and hooker.

Dunlop scored two late tries to make the final score 31-17.

On Saturday, Upton entertain Wolverhampton in the EDF Senior Vase.