NEWLY-promoted Worcester Nomads saw off city rivals Worcester by 12 runs in a keenly-contested match to continue their good start to the Crusader Worcestershire League Division One season.

Nomads, who moved up from Division Two last term, would have seen the fixture as a stern test of their top-flight credentials, seeing as Worcester were relegated from the Birmingham League in 2006.

However, Nomads have enjoyed a dream start to their campaign and already find themselves second in the table, just one point behind Redditch, who also came into the division from the Birmingham League.

Although ninth-placed Worcester have struggled so far this year, it was an impressive performance by Nomads and their efforts have secured them our team-of-the-week award as well as a box of six Fearnley cricket balls, worth £90, as a prize.

Nomads chairman Nic Lloyd said: "We do like to beat Worcester and we knew it was going to be a tough game.

"The toss certainly had a bearing - we managed to post 219 and then bowled them out for 207 to wrap up a great win.

"I am very pleased with how the season has gone so far - you naturally have doubts when you go into a new league, but the team have played really well.

"We have got a good opening bowling attack and a first-class spinner in Geoff Taylor. The batsmen have all chipped in too, while the standard of fielding has been excellent."

Malcolm Jones (38), skipper Dannie Rees (30), Darren Lakin (26) and James Smith (25), as well as Guy Davies with a late cameo (31no), were the backbone of Nomads' 219 all out. Dan Keyte and Matt Foster both took three wickets for Worcester.

Worcester began their reply brightly but both openers were dismissed by the accurate bowling of Ben Schiffmann, who went on to claim 6-65.

A 90-run partnership between Foster and Clive Chadhani looked to have swung the game for Worcester but Derek Austin had other ideas, picking up two key wickets.

Schiffmann then returned to bowl Greg Fincher with the penultimate ball of the match to seal a dramatic victory.