WORCESTERSHIRE Royals are today standing eight points clear at the top of the Norwich Union National League Division One table following a Graeme Hick century in Saturday's tense four-run victory over title-rivals Somerset Sabres at Taunton.

The County skipper plundered 101, his first limited-over ton of the season, as the County stretched their winning league run to a splendid six matches.

Hick's magical three-figure efforts left Somerset a victory target of 223 and by the time the last over arrived they were still in striking distance with 14 runs needed.

With four balls left they required a further nine, but after Andy Caddick was run out off the penultimate delivery it was left to Paul Jarvis with the task of trying to crack a six off the final ball.

He failed and the delighted County took another major step in their bid to go one better than last year when they finished runners-up to Lancashire Lightning.

All, however, did not start well for Worcestershire after they were put in, losing Vikram Solanki off the first ball.

Elliott Wilson departed for six and it was left to Hick and David Leatherdale to brighten the picture, putting on 58 in 11 overs before the latter fell for a valuable 35.

Next ball, however, Ryan Driver departed leg before and it was in the hands of teenage rookie Kadeer Ali, on his limited-over debut, to avoid Keith Parson's hat-trick ball.

Kadeer went on to make an encouraging 20 before Hick and Steve Rhodes got together to produce a vital half century stand.

They added 54 balls before hero Hick fell to Jarvis for 101 which included ten fours off 108 balls.

A further 31 for the seventh wicket between Rhodes (38 not out) and Stuart Lampitt (16) helped put further pressure on Somerset who have now lost their last two crucial league matches.

When the Sabres launched their victory charge they soon came up against the determination of another Ali, this time Kabeer's older cousin Kabir.

The young paceman ripped out Marcus Trescothick and Piran Holloway and when Leatherdale dismissed Jamie Cox, Somerset were tottering at 64-3.

Worcestershire, however, were then made to work harder for their wickets by a batsman called Bowler -- Peter Bowler who went on to make 67, including eight fours off 84 balls, before he was smartly stumped by Rhodes off Lampitt.

He had put on 86 in 16 overs with Michael Burns who was next to go for 56 including six fours off 64 deliveries.

At that stage Somerset were 178-5 but, despite the spirited efforts of Malvern-born Robert Turner (18 not out) and Ian Blackwell (19), Somerset were unable to knock Worcestershire out of their winning stride.