WORCESTER Athletic Club Men's Team returned to winning ways to retain their Midland Masters Track & Field League Title after a hard fought battle with Birmingham rivals Birchfield Harriers.

They convincingly won the final league meeting scoring 233 points with Halesowen (218) just edging out Birchfield (215) into third place.

This was Worcester's third win from four league meetings with Birchfield taking the other.

A weakened Worcester ladies team compiled 165 points but could only manage fourth place behind Bromsgrove & Redditch (181), Birchfield Harriers(178) Dudley & Stourbridge 170.

This however was good enough for third place overall in the league.

In the mens and ladies combined team event Worcester hung on to the narrowest of margins to win the inaugural trophy, from Birchfield Harriers.

Impressive track victories were provided by Richard White and Stewart Halion (over 50) at 800m.

In the field event Marc Flannery had success at both the triple jump and shot putt to go with second place in the javelin.

Well earned runners up spots collecting valuable team points went to Derek Naish 800m, Richard White and Tim Rolph over 200m, Evan Pawluk making his debut for club at 3000m, Les Scrivens 2000m walk, Roger King 0/60 Javelin and 4 x 400m relay team.

In the ladies event Sian Jones provided the only victory of the evening at 800m. Runners up positions were returned by Ros Townsend-Hope over 800m, Gill Repton 2000m walk and triple jump.

Worcester's men's team hope to be at full strength to defend their Midlands Masters Championship Cup Final Trophy they won for the first time in the clubs history last season.

The meeting takes place at The Dell, Brierley Hill next Sunday 31st August. Worcester will be hard pressed by former championship winners, Charnwood A. C. Royal Sutton Coldfield A.C. and Birchfield Harriers.