Valuable win for County

The County made one change to their team for the match at Prince Henry's High School, Evesham, with Alison Clarke coming in to replace the unavailable Alison Wagstaffe.

The opening exchanges were relatively even with each team threatening to open a lead only to be pegged back quickly.

The game was played at a frenetic pace with both sides eager to impose themselves on the opposition.

Worcestershire took the initiative in the latter stages of the first quarter and started to build a lead with some crisp incisive netball and good shooting by Helen Webb. At the end of the quarter they led 15-8.

In the opening minutes of the second quarter Worcestershire's grip was truly loosened with Hertfordshire taking the game to them and with some timely interceptions plus making sure they scored on their own centre they soon ate into the home side's lead.

This was so successful that they pulled back the deficit and by the end of the quarter Hertfordshire led 19-18.

Their comeback really rocked Worcestershire so at the start of the third quarter the team was reshuffled.

Rachel Hill came on at goal shooter replacing Webb who moved to goal attack in the hope that her extra height would give the opposition something else to think about and disrupt their defensive strategy.

Worcestershire took the game to the opposition with much the same gusto as they had been on the receiving end previously. They outscored Hertfordshire by nearly three to one in the third quarter and at the interval were leading 33-25.

Worcestershire needed to play with their heads in the final quarter in order to guarantee a victory.

They scored on most of their centres and although Hertfordshire had a better quarter they were still outscored 11-7 and the much-needed victory went to Worcestershire.

Other matches:

Second team -- Worcestershire 27 Hertfordshire 43.

U18s -- Worcestershire 29 Hertfordshire 47.

U16s -- Worcestershire 17 Hertfordshire 40.