DESPITE a confidence-sapping defeat to table-topping Elmdon before Christmas, Worcester-based Saracens bounced back with a 46-30 victory over local rivals Evesham Reds in the West Midlands League.

With a single-goal victory each and one draw in the previous three games between these sides a close game was expected again.

The first quarter proved to be very even with each side taking it in turns to lead by one goal and then peg the opposition back.

This continued until the last minute of the quarter when Saracens scored two goals in succession to take an 11-9 lead.

Evesham quickly levelled early in the second quarter before going into the one-goal lead, however, Saracens hit back with four goals.

Although Evesham managed to reduce the deficit yet again to one goal this proved to be as close as they were going to get as the Worcester-based side outscored them eight goals to four in the latter stages to lead 19-16 at half-time.

Evesham started to lose confidence after the interval and Saracens took the game by the scruff of the neck, outscoring Evesham by two goals to one as they took a 31-21 lead at the end of the third quarter.

In previous games Saracens had tended to lose concentration in the final sessions of games and let the opposition back in but this was not to be the case in this game.

The final quarter was to be Saracens' most successful in scoring terms.

The Worcester-based outfit nailed 15 goals and while Evesham had slightly better luck in this quarter they could only score nine as Saracens romped to a 46-30 victory.

This was probably Saracens' best performance of the season.

Goal attack Carrie Fearby put in a vintage performance of shooting against the Reds as Saracens kept their slim hopes of winning the league crown alive.

The Worcester-based side must now rely on leaders Elmdon slipping up while continuing to win their games if they are to stand any chance of winning the title.