Hethersett Hawks/Myhill Decorators took a squad of 11 to the south coast to face Hellingly Lions.

A strong first team had high hopes of keeping up their winning start to the league season but came unstuck on the tricky Sussex circuit and went down 88-71 (D Chambers 14, J Herring 12, L Smith 10, L Cossey 9, H Hamill 9, O Wells 8, D Butler 6, G Morgan 3.

An exclusion for Leigh Cossey in heat seven saw Hellingly stretch an early lead to 11 points and it was uphill for the Hawks after that. They did improve in the second half and had their only heat win by Josh Herring and Harley Hamill in heat 13.

The Division Two fixture was a much closer affair, with Hethersett winning 81-78 (D Butler 22, O Wells 16, G Morgan 13, D Longlands 12, H Hamill 9, L Hulcoop 6, K Adams 3).

With the new Battle of Britain inter-regional competition opening at the weekend, the Hawks are next in action on Sunday May 7 at home to Kesgrave.