DROITWICH Spa CC First XI continued their unconvincing start to the season with a lack lustre performance in a six-wicket defeat at home to bottom of the table Hagley on Saturday.

After being asked to bat on a wet pitch, Droitwich again struggled to post a competitive total in the Worcestershire County League division one clash.

It is Spa's fourth defeat in eight games of the current campaign and leaves them languishing in seventh position in the table.

Few home batsman looked up to the task as Spa laboured to a pitiful total of 123-9 in their 50 overs.

Indeed, only Paul Bryan, with a slow but gritty 41, captain Ian Duggan (16) and Karl Goddard (24 not out) looked in any sort of form.

Trinham, Hagley's top bowler, made life difficult for the hosts as he recorded figures of 4-29.

In response, the visitors went calmly about their work and looked under little pressure as they slowly accumulated the required runs.

Lightfoot (37) and Trinham (42) were Hagley's main threats, accounting for more than half of their target.

Although Spa did make a fight of it, picking up four wickets towards the end of the innings, the result was never in doubt.

Mike Rogers (2-41) bowled well and he was ably supported by Adrian Field but he could only take 1-26.

But Droitwich only had themselves to blame for the loss.

By posting a meagre 123, they had set themselves an insufficient lead to defend and, ultimately, too much work to do.