SARACENS ended Newcastle Town's unbeaten run in the West Midland League and maintained their fine start to the campaign with a 38-22 victory.

The first quarter started out as a very cagey affair with neither side managing to score until two quick goals from Newcastle.

Saracens slowly reduced tha deficit and at the end of the quarter it was 6-6.

The early minutes of the second quarter mirrored the first with neither side pulling away.

Saracens managed to edge ahead by seven goals at the break leaving the score 18-11.

The hosts managed to stretch their lead in further in the third quarter with the Saracens defensive duo of Dawn Burford and Becky Sweet both outstanding as the Worcester side stormed to a 28-14 lead.

With victory almost assured, the Saracens relaxed in the final quarter and made no mistakes in wrapping up the 38-22 success.

Two county rivals fought out a close derby match in the second week of the West Midlands Regional League, with Saracens beating Evesham Reds 39-38.

The game started tentatively with both sides cancelling each other out until the score was 3-3, when Saracens took the game to their hosts with Hayley Taylor in-form. The visitors took a 14-4 lead into the second quarter.

Saracens continued to pile on the pressure with fast incisive attacks and stormed to a 19-5 lead, however the Reds pegged them back to 26-12 at half-time.

In the early stages of the third quarter Saracens increased their to lead 16 goals, before Evesham started to fight back.

The hosts started to eat into the Saracens lead and by the end of the third quarter the Reds had reduced the arrears to 33-24.

As the final session came to a close the Reds were trailing by just two points. With five seconds remaining the hosts won a penalty that Clare Lojko netted but they had run out of time in their fight back.