UPTON kept up their 100 per cent record at home in Midlands Three West (South) this season.

The Old Street side saw off Manor Park 26-8 and are seventh in the table ahead of Saturday’s visit to Old Wheatleyans, who are one place above them.

Upton continued the trend of home sides winning in the division with a hard-fought victory over their rivals from Nuneaton.

With lots of changes from the previous week’s disappointing 22-11 loss to local rivals Ledbury, coaches Stu Brooks and Oli Banwell hoped for more aggression and spirit.

However, the first-half turned out to be a weak effort as Upton failed to secure their own ball at the breakdown and stop the strong runners from the visitors.

Despite their lack of power in defence, they did not let the visitors cross the line and all they had to show for their dominance of territory in the first 30 minutes was a penalty.

Slowly though, the hosts started to make their way upfield and, after a number of phases, were held up short of the try line on the stroke of half-time.

But returning fly-half Ali Hills gathered a weak pass from the back of the ruck and darted back inside three would-be tacklers to dot down.

Dan Hart converted to make it 7-3 at half-time.

Banwell laid into the players at the interval but, immediately from kick-off, Upton let Manor Park run from halfway to score their first try. From out wide, the conversion was missed.

Finally, the score ignited Upton and their fitness began to allow them to find spaces.

Skipper Max Macfarlane led the charge, storming onto a pass from scrum-half James Gammond from 20 metres out to score.

Then Martin Muleko added another try to his tally this season, finishing off a flowing backs move involving Alex Flower and Joe Ayres.

Hart missed the conversion but nailed the fourth one after Upton secured the bonus point.

Powerful centre Dan Keyte then broke through last-ditch Park tackling to secure the win for Upton.