WORCESTER put up a valiant effort but could not stop Midlands One West leaders Burton taking a 34-22 win away from Weston's Fields.
The city club, who visit fifth-placed Rugby Lions on Saturday, have slipped to 10th in the table after a seventh defeat in 13 league games.
Bromsgrove dropped off the pace with several November defeats but picked up an 11th league win of the campaign by beating Camp Hill 47-17.
Hereford are eight points above Worcester in seventh following a 17-10 win at basement boys Sutton Coldfield.
Midlands Two West (South) leaders Droitwich kept up their 100 per cent record with a 27-14 home triumph over Silhillians.
Malvern are six points behind after winning a thrilling crunch clash at third-placed Kenilworth 37-31.
Evesham returned to winning ways and moved up to eighth with a 17-14 victory over second-from-bottom Nuneaton Old Edwardians.
Struggling Kidderminster Carolians started the new year in style with only their second Midlands Two West (North) success of the season, defeating fourth-placed Walsall 21-13.
Bromyard boosted their relegation fight in Midlands Three West (South) thanks to a 12-10 home win over Alcester.
They are eight points off third-from-bottom Upton who lost 26-17 at Dunlop.
Mid-table Ledbury fell 39-15 at home to title-chasing Shipston-on-Stour.
In Midlands Four West (South), Pershore crashed 41-12 at Coventry Welsh, Redditch lost 27-10 at Coventrians and Tenbury went down 22-5 at Burbage.
Greyhound continued their Midlands Five West (North) title pursuit through a 49-8 home thrashing of St Leonards.
Chaddesley Corbett lost 22-15 to leaders Bishops Castle and Onny Valley while basement boys Stourport conceded their game at Gnosall.
SATURDAY'S FIXTURES
Midlands One West: Dudley Kingswinford v Bromsgrove; Hereford v Wolverhampton; Rugby Lions v Worcester.
Division Two West (South): Barkers Butts v Droitwich; Malvern v Leamington; Old Yardleians v Evesham.
Division Two West (North): Cleobury Mortimer v Kidderminster Carolians.
Division Three West (South): Upton v Ledbury; Woodrush v Bromyard.
Division Four West (South): Pershore v Harbury; Redditch v Coventry Welsh; Tenbury v Claverdon.
Division Five West (North): Warley v Greyhound.
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