ACTING captain Steve Rhodes believes Worcestershire can use their 48-run victory over Glamorgan at New Road as a launchpad to climb up the County Champion-ship table.

"At least we have now built a foundation," he said after the County wrapped up their first win of the season after a run of three defeats on the trot.

"When I started this crusade as captain I really wanted to hand back over to Tom Moody with us in a position of reasonable strength."

Glamorgan, facing a victory target of 198, resumed yesterday on 105-7 and after a brief spell of defiance were finally all out for 149.

Breakthrough

Adrian Shaw, 18 not out overnight, and Dean Cosker, on three, pushed their stand to 34 before paceman Phil Newport made the vital breakthrough by trapping Cosker leg before for 16 with a delivery which kept low.

He then accounted for Shaw whose fighting 45 included seven fours off 81 deliveries.

Alamagir Sheriyar ended the Glamorgan innings by ousting Steve Watkin for 2 to lifted his first-class wickets tally so far this season to an impressive 34.

Rhodes said: "The win boosts obviously our confidence but we are also disappointed by the way we batted. But you have to take that on the chin and we are looking to improve in that area.

"The victory if so vital to us after the way we have started in the Championship and to come away with the points is very, very satisfying.

"It was a strange wicket. I genuinely thought it was going to be a decent batting wicket, but it proved to be an awkward one for batting on up, down and sidewards."

Rhodes said he was not unduly worried by the Shaw-Cosker stand but was relieved to see Newport make the breakthrough.

"It was just a little bit concerned that the wicket didn't seem to do quite as much as it had done, but I felt that they had too many runs to get."

For Glamorgan it was their first Championship defeat of the season.