BEFORE the latest round of matches, Vine had failed to win a single game in seven attempts in Crusader Worcestershire League Division Five.

That all changed when they travelled to fellow strugglers Highley, also without a victory at the wrong end of the table.

After skittling their opponents for just 77 in 27 overs, which included an unbeaten 54 from Stephen Walford, Vine romped to an eight-wicket success with 80-2 in 22 overs.

Their efforts make them our team of the week, winning the club a box of six Fearnley cricket balls, worth £90.

Vine won the toss and put Highley into bat with Mark Jones (2-9) and skipper Tony Ball (2-12) among the wicket-takers.

Father-and-son batsmen Adam and Rob Passey then steered the Worcester side to victory with 24 and 35 not out respectively.

Captain Ball was delighted to get off the mark for the season but thought it was long overdue. He said: "It went really well. We played extremely well, we kept it tight and the opening bowling of myself and Mark Jones tied them up from the outset.

"We have felt all the way through the season we should have won most of the games.

"We haven't been beaten by the other sides but have thrown the games away.

"We have bowled teams out for under 150 but not been able to do it with the bat.

"We haven't been able to put our strongest side out this season. It's a bit frustrating.

"Everyone knows we can play better but it seems to have gelled well this time.

"It just shows what we already knew - that we can play considerably better and hopefully we can continue where we left off last year when we only lost two games."