SOMERSET Sabres put Worcestershire Royals' Norwich Union National Lea-gue Division One title hopes to the sword by winning yesterday's top-of-the-table clash at New Road by 53 runs.

The County are now two points behind leaders Somerset who gain-ed sweet revenge for their four-run defeat against skipper Graeme Hick's men at Taunton on June 24.

Since then Worcestershire have not won in the competition, suffering three defeats and two no results.

After winning the toss, Somerset were boosted by half-centuries from Jamie Cox and Michael Burns before slow left-armer Ian Blackwell took 4-36 to help dismiss the County for 174 in 40.3 overs.

When they launched their innings, the Sabres were able to make a dashing start thanks to some poor bowling by rookie pace duo Kabir Ali and Chris Liptrot.

They were so wayward that after just four overs the visitors were on 36-0 -- 15 of them coming in extras including 11 wides and four leg byes.

Openers Marcus Trescothick and Mark Lathwell were able to bring up the 50 in 6.1 overs and after ten overs had powered their side to 63-0.

The County, however, gradually began to regain some composure and finally made a breakthrough when Trescothick, on 25, was caught at short mid-wicket by his England team-mate Hick off paceman Stuart Lampitt. He had put on 68 in 11 overs with Lathwell who was run out shortly afterwards by Richard Illingworth for 29.

Peter Bowler also became a run out victim -- this time by the County's man-of-the-match David Leatherdale --before Cox and Burns joined forces to add 74 in 15 overs.

The valuable partnership ended when Cox was caught at cover by Lampitt off Leatherdale for 57 after hitting three fours off 76 balls.

Leatherdale followed up his success in accounting for Cox by yorking Burns for 51, which contained five fours off 58 deliveries.

The alert all-rounder then ran out Blackwell in the next over as Worcestershire fought hard to try to make up for their earlier below-par efforts.

Illingworth bowled Keith Parsons before Hick had Graham Rose caught at backward square leg by Lampitt followed by Paul Jarvis who became a third run out victim for Leather-dale.

Once the County launched their replay it soon became evident that it was not going to be their day.

Hick, who was eventually allowed to play by the ECB, made only three as the County's hopes were left in the hands of Leatherdale and Vikram Solanki who put on 52 in 12 overs.

But once their stand was broken Somerset were never in any trouble as they eased to victory.