ASSASSINS won the clash of the day to move within a point of the top of Worcester Sunday League Division One.

They got off to the perfect start with D Banfield (13 spare) helping them to an opening leg of 52.

Head Hunters replied with two opening legs of 40 but Assassins tied the second leg with spares from A Lock (14) and Banfield (12).

A third leg of 46 left Hunters 58 to catch but they managed 61, including two spares from J Ballance (15) and P Read (17), and then a fourth leg of 43.

Banfield, needing a 10 spare for the leg on the fourth, did just enough to cut the lead to two pins.

A final leg of 47 left Hunters 46 to win but their last effort of 44 was not good enough.

The big difference on the day was Assassins' star man Banfield with his three spares all coming at the right time.

Division One: Assassins 239 (17) (D Banfield 51, A Lock 44), Head Hunters 238 (3) (P Read 46, J Ballance 43); Magnificent 8 197 (3) (R Gallagher 43), Odd Bunch 210 (17) (J Pyke 43, S Callaghan 42); Prince Rebels 217 (16) (S Thompson 39), Goodrest 199 (4) (M Fisher 41).

Division Two: Bear's Brigade 208 (18) (S Bristow 43), Wide a Wakers 178 (2) (D Sellick 34); Awal 209 (14) (E Hodgetts 40), Dickheads 202 (6) (K Pegram 37); Yo-Yo's 194 (17) (D Penn 41), Cavalier 185 (3) (Chris Blincoe 35).

Division Three: Rebels 199 (19) (F Morag 36), Leapers 177 (1) (D Smith, M Smith 34); AC '73 234 (16) (J Evans 44, P George 42, D Hughes 41), Reservoir Dogs 219 (4) (M West 43); Blackpole Young Un's 200 (2) (A Ingram 38), Railway Boozers 211 (18) (C May 40).