HEREFORDSHIRE claimed their first win in the South West Division of the English Counties Netball League when they overturned East Devon 51-38 at Bridge Street Sports Centre, Leominster.

Herefordshire unveiled their new streamlined kit of royal blue and apple green Lycra dresses and gave a suitably sleek performance to improve their winning margin against the side they beat 46-38 last season.

Goal-shooter Ali Benbow had an excellent first quarter, showing good mobility and a high scoring percentage to help her team to a 16-10 advantage.

East Devon then produced a stronger display, claiming the second phase by 11 goals to Herefordshire's 10 and taking the scoreline to 26-21.

Herefordshire's performance in the third quarter, which exploited the team changes made by East Devon, effectively won them the match. The efforts of the defensive trio Sally Hill, Nicky Hill and Sophie Wright saw a higher number of interceptions and rebounds and this, coupled with the excellent rapport between centre Jaydee Hunt and goal-attack Kerry Amos, saw the home team secure 14 goals to eight.

Entering the final quarter with a 40-29 advantage, Herefordshire continued to consolidate their lead. Wing-attack Mel Hunt provided some telling feeds to her shooters and continued to dominate the attacking third alongside sister Jaydee, thus enabling the home team to run out as comfortable victors.

Herefordshire Under-18 played a friendly in which East Devon fielded two senior players and won 44-31.

Herefordshire gave a good account of themselves in an extremely close encounter, during which the lead exchanged hands several times. Vanessa Ball gave a strong contribution to her team's cause, playing first at wing-defence and then moving to centre.

With the absence of Hereford's regular goal shooter, Abi Wooldridge gamely played out of position and gave an excellent performance .

The Herefordshire squad face a busy weekend of fixtures when they travel to neutral venue Taunton on Saturday to play strong contenders Cornwall, to whom they lost 48-40 last season. They then face the Royal Navy at Hereford Sixth Form College on Sunday and will be hoping for a closer game than the 65-15 victory they had last year when the opposition were depleted.

BOSS Hereford League results: Beaumonts 59, Panthers 27; Folbigg Flyers 51, Radnor 14; Jaffas 37, Humfrys & Symonds 15; TC's 47, Nightmares 15; Luk 50, Sun Valley 15.