UPTON went into the Christmas period with a 31-8 home win over Alcester to keep them second in Midlands Four West (South).

Having not played at home for a month, Upton were keen to sign off 2015 with a victory.

With the pitch wet and continual windy conditions, it was never going to be an easy game and third-from-bottom Alcester started better.

Upton kept giving penalties away and were punished when Chris O’Neil was sent to the sin-bin for entering a ruck dangerously, with Alcester slotting over the penalty on 25 minutes.

The hosts kept their discipline to string some phases together and the turning point came with five minutes of the first half to go.

The visitors’ fly-half illegally knocked on and was sent to the sin-bin just as O’Neil returned.

With Upton a man up and near the visitors’ line, they used their numerical superiority to cross the whitewash.

Prop Jake Varndall scored his first try for the club after barging his way over from five metres from a Rob Heeley pop pass.

Oli Swift converted to make it 7-3, and from the kick-off Upton scored again.

The ball went wide through the backs after the forwards sucked in the defence.

A kick through was chased by winger Joe Ayres but full-back Alex Flower won the race to score.

Swift failed with the conversion to make the half-time score 12-3.

Upton started the second half where they left off with three tries in the first 20 minutes.

Josh Finch continued his rich vein of form with a try before openside Nathan Tomkins snatched the ball at the breakdown and plunged over.

Upton rang the changes once they had the bonus points and replacement Martin Muleko scooted in for the fifth try.

Swift added two conversions for the hosts in the second period.

Upton took their foot off the gas and allowed Alcester a consolation try.

The Old Street side entertain Yardley and District in the RFU Midlands Vase on Saturday, January 2.

Meanwhile, Bromyard registered a winning bonus point at bottom-of-the-table Market Drayton with a 34-14 triumph in Midlands Four West (North).

Despite conceding an early try, the third-placed visitors ran out comfortable winners, with backs Toby Rivers and Tom Gallagher diving over for a brace apiece.

Ollie Barrett also scored and the Herefordshire side’s forwards contributed with a penalty try.