DEFENDING champions Worcester, of the Worcester and District Men's League, won the first game of this season's Three Cities competition with a narrow three-pin victory away at Hereford.

Worcester built up an early lead, winning the first leg by six pins and the second by three. Hereford fought back to take the third leg by four and the fourth leg by six to build a one-pin advantage.

Worcester, by winning the fifth leg by one, squared the game before falling behind on the penultimate leg by nine pins.

A final leg by Hereford of 76 left Worcester 86 to win, and helped by an 11 spare by Dave Jones, they scored 88 to win the game 632-629.

Roger Randle top-scored for Worcester with 60, while R Faymes with 64 was Hereford's top scorer.

DIVISION ONE Scaplehorns v Old Reynards (no result sheet received); Tearaways 465 (K Turpin 48, M Bayfield 46, C Franklin 43, N Ford, M Barton 42), Sausagemen 420 (G Holtham 40); Back Scuttlers v Westsiders (no result sheet received); Poachers 435 (L Harding 51), Arbos 424 (P King 39); Saints 424 (G Ryland 44, C Awford 43), C' Siders 438 (J Parker 51, A Cokes 46, R Griffiths 43); All Blacks v Budgies (no result sheet received); Hanley Sports v XS Pins (no result sheet received); Warlords 398 (M Llewellyn 38), Playboys 370 (I Morris 40).

DIVISION TWO Archdales B' 362 (K Powell 37), Cradley Sports 376 (J Palmer 36); Brewers Arms 380 (C Jones, V Thomas 40), Settlers 381 (P Howard 36); Independents 386 (A Willis 41), Alleycats 401 (I Bayliss 45, C Whittenbury 41); Avengers 411 (B Taylor 42, S Taylor 40), Redhill Dropouts 388 (B Ford 38); Barbourne BC 388 (D Jeffrey 39), Floaters 395 (A Ballard 38, N Vaughan 36); Hallow A' 377 (G Silvester 37), Crown Rebels 303 (P Bloore 35); Newsmen v Wanderers (no result sheet received).

DIVISION THREE Droitwich RBL 398 (T O'Hara 41), Volunteers A' 381 (M Carter 39); No Hoppers 382 (G Hill 38), Mad Bulls 320 (S Webster 38); The Outsiders 413 (T Oliver 44, M Robinson 43, J Davies 41, K Farmer 40), Blackpole 393 (P Charlton, K Copson 38); Heenans A' 396 (A White 41), Monarchs 413 (J Nash 46); Stowaways 359 (T Underhill 35), Winning Post 365 (J Lee 36); Grosvenor Vikings 411 (M Richardson 46), Sarry's Z 409 (M Griffiths 45, M Jones 40); Misspins 413 (G Barker, A Houlston 42), Woodmen 398 (M Crowe 52).