HANLEY Castle and Upton grabbed a precious first win of the season in a crunch cricket derby at Malvern.

With the sides at the foot of Worcestershire League Division Three without a victory to their name, something had to give at Regency Road.

But Malvern suffered more frustration with their seventh defeat of the campaign as Hanley moved 27 points clear in second-from-bottom spot.

The hosts were bowled out for 154 in 37.1 overs with Tom Hale's 58 and 28 from David Cox not being backed up in a middle to lower order collapse.

Tony Hutchings took 4-20 from 8.1 overs and Will Barrell 3-29.

Hanley made hard work of the reply before bagging a two-wicket success with 157-8 from 48 overs.

Rory Mathews backed up his two wickets with 50 runs while captain Will St Leger-Chambers added 22 and Dan Powell 26.

There followed a mini-collapse before Grant Mathews (2 not out) and bowling hero Hutchings (14no) saw Hanley home.

Malvern host fellow strugglers Bromsgrove thirds on Saturday while Hanley welcome third-placed Alvechurch and Hopwood (both 1pm).

In the seconds' Division Four fixture at The Glebe, Malvern won by eight runs after restricting the home side to 148-9 in reply to 181-9.

Andrew Croft's 6-26 for Malvern followed Barry Addison's 37no with the bat and 36 from Alex Smith.