HEREFORDSHIRE bounced back from a shaky first hour to notch their first MCCA championship win of the season with a 32-run success against Devon at Eastnor.

The county side's first victory of the campaign owed much to the contribution of experienced seamer Dan Conway, who bagged eight wickets in the match to leave him tantalisingly on the brink of becoming only the third Herefordshire bowler to take 100 championship wickets.

But Conway, who now has 99 victims, also played a notable part with the bat, notching 24 in a last-wicket stand of 39 with Barney Morgan (35 not out), slightly more than the eventual victory margin.

Herefordshire, who chose to bat after winning the toss, slipper to 16-3 before all-rounder David Ball (32) instigated a slight recovery.

But the home side were still in plenty of trouble at 83-7 when Juhjar Johal, who struck 11 boundaries in an impressive 82, and wicket-keeper Ian Bullock (30) more than doubled the score with an eighth wicket stand of 89.

Herefordshire were finally all out for 193 but, if that initially seemed below par, then their bowlers struck back in style.

Conway (4-15), Tom Hage (3-13 in 12 overs) and Morgan (2-37) all played major roles in dismissing the visitors for 89, with Bullock also contributing further with four catches.

Herefordshire's top order all got starts in the second innings with skipper Matt Pardoe (44), Ollie Rogoff (20), Mahaaz Ahmed (35), Ball (27 and Shameer Ahme (37) helping to extend the lead.

After the relatively small but, as it turned out, hugely significant last-wicket stand, Devon were left to chase 342 and with opener and skipper Alex Barrow (102) leading the way, they seemed well placed at 183-2.

But then Conway (4-54) and Ball (4-79) got among the wickets and the visitors were left short on 309.

Herefordshire will now go into their next encounter, with Dorset at Bashley on Sunday week, with renewed confidence.