UPTON progressed to the RFU Midlands Senior Vase quarter-finals after a spirited second-half display helped them beat Willenhall 17-13.

It was the first meeting between the sides with Willenhall playing in Midlands Three West (North) and Upton in the south equivalent.

But Willenhall’s form was good and they used their big forwards to drive at a lacklustre-looking defence.

Coupled with a strong 10 and inside-centre, Upton struggled to get the ball.

They went ahead through a Dan Hart penalty but Willenhall led by the 20th minute.

From a well-worked line-out, the forwards peeled round and span the ball wide for an overlap to score an unconverted try in the corner.

Upton hit back with the introduction of Chris O’Neil in the back row but indiscipline led to another try.

Matt Glading was sin-binned for deliberately collapsing a maul before Willenhall kicked to the corner.

Their line-out set up a driving maul and the number eight peeled off to score.

The conversion was missed but they kicked a long-range penalty before half-time.

Upton coach Oli Banwell demanded more intensity in the second period and got it.

With the introduction of Rob Heeley at tighthead, Upton dominated the scrum and breakdown.

They displayed better fitness and Alex Flower scored from fellow centre Dan Keyte’s run and pass after a quick line-out with Hart’s conversion making it 13-10.

Upton’s offloading caused problems and the winning points came after a number of phases resulted in prop Charlie Abbey taking the ball on.

He offloaded to Max Macfarlane and the skipper brushed aside two tacklers and rounded the full-back for a converted try under the posts.

O’Neil, Keyte and fly-half Ollie Cooke then pinned Willenhall in their own half with intelligent kicking.

Upton host league leaders Woodrush on Saturday as they remember past players and coaches in the annual Morton-Foley get-together.