WITH their defeat of second-placed Nottingham Highfields, Worcester Norton women's first team have extended their lead at the top of the Midland Premier League to ten points with five games to go.

On Saturday at Nunnery Wood (3pm) they take on the basement team Luton, who have yet to win a game.

Earlier,Worcester recorded their highest score of the season, 9-0, away to the Bedfordshire club.

This time Worcester will just be satisfied with a win irrespective of the score because two wins will give them the title and entry into the play-offs for the National League.

Worcester seconds are also riding high at the top of Worcestershire Division One.

On Saturday they are away to Droitwich firsts with whom they drew 1-1 with before Christmas. To maintain their top position they will need to take all three points this time.

Worcester thirds have shown considerable improvement after the mid-season break in their bid to avoid relegation from Worcestershire Division One but will do well to take a point off Stourport firsts who beat them convincingly earlier in the season. (Nunnery Wood 4.30pm).

Following their best league win of the season in their last game, Worcester fourths will travel to Stourport thirds to try to avenge their previous 2-0 defeat to keep them in mid-table in Worcestershire Division Three.

On Sunday, both Worcester Under 18 and Under 15 teams are in the fourth round of their respective age group English Hockey Cup ties against National Premier League opponents.

The Under 18s are away to Sutton Coldfield and the under 15s, the current national champions, travel in the other direction to take on Clifton in Bristol.

NOTTINGHAM HIGHFIELDS 1 WORCESTER NORTON 2.

On an unfamiliar water-based surface Worcester Norton struggled to produce their normal fluency of passing but did enough to clinch the three points to edge them closer to the Midland Premier League title.

Worcester began the game in control and continued to dominate for the majority of the time.

The extra bounce of the surface meant that the first touch on the ball was not as secure as usual in tight situations and contributed to a greater number of errors.

Goalkeeper Fiona Nash had to be on top form in the first half to clear decisively and to make an important diving save to keep Highfields at bay.

At the other end Jo Walker went close with a strong reverse stick shot that was well saved, but finally at the fifth penalty corner in the 28th minute a clever deflection by Kate Draper of Tina Evans' strike saw the ball fly into the net to put Worcester into the lead.

Shortly before half-time Draper had to leave the field for treatment to an injury caused by a blow from a stick to the knee.

This allowed 15-year-old striker Claire Stewardson to make her Midland Prem-ier League debut after a number of promising performances in the second team.

Within three minutes of the re-start Worcester scored the all-important second goal when the ball ran loose in the circle and Becky Adams fastened onto the chance to slip it over the line.

The second half followed the pattern of the first with Worcester controlling the game but not converting their chances.

The return of Draper saw her make several driving runs to force penalty corners but to no avail.

Three minutes from the end, an unforced passing error in defence that gave away possession, saw Worcester concede a penalty stroke which was duly converted.