EIGHT Devonport Services girls helped Devon under-18s to an impressive 62-12 win over Gloucestershire in their opening county championship match of the season at Banbury on Sunday.

Hooker Katherine Wherry and the back-row trio of Megan Musgrave, Megan Heath and Milla Lynch were joined in the starting line up by winger Livi Squire, while Isobel Munton, Jemima Cameron, Jess Cooper made their county debuts at under-18 level as replacements.

Heath, in her second season at under-18 level, captained the Devon side against Gloucestershire.

The Services girls will have taken encouragement from seeing former player Lagi Tuima called up into the senior England women’s squad just two seasons after playing for Devon under-18s.

Meanwhile, Devonport’s Phoebe Bishop scored a try as the Devon under-15 girls’ team beat their Gloucestershire counterpart 36-12 also at Banbury.