UPTON Rugby Club still have their sight set on promotion from the North Midlands One this season and after an indifferent start have put together a winning run of five matches.

Rob Heeley, Upton's 1st XV captain talks to the Malvern Gazette about the forthcoming Warley game.

He said: "There is a positivity within Upton RFC at the moment that I haven't felt for two or three seasons. Before last Saturday's game at home to Bishop's Castle, the first XV hadn't played together since 9 December.

"Saturday's game was always going to be difficult because Castle are a very strong, hard side and they slowed us down throughout the game. Our plan of spreading the ball wide never happened and we had to rely on the boot for victory. It was nice to see Kev Foley back in the first team, and although we won I would ask the players not to be surprised if there are more changes this weekend away at Warley.

"We have had our game at Warley cancelled twice in the last month but in hindsight I'm relieved. The Black Country side haven't won a game all season and had 55 five points put on them last Saturday. However, I felt that if we had played them after a long break we might have gone there a little too complacent. Now though we have a hard fought win under our belts and areas we can work on before this weekend's game.

"Hopefully most of our team will be the same this week, although open side Ben Penson will definitely miss out due to niggling injuries. But this game gives an opportunity to try some new players, but we mustn't change too much to upset the apple cart.

"Despite the fact we have won five games in a row, and not lost since October, we still remain stuck in mid table. This week's game gives us the chance to move up a place if not two. I firmly believe we can keep our winning run going."