HANNAH BOYLING netted four goals to give Totnes & Dartington a winning start in the Premier Division of the Westward Developments Devon Women's League on Sunday.

T&D have won promotion as champions for the past two seasons to reach the top flight and, with the demise of their first team, manager Keith Hawkins has retained the services several experienced players.

Hayley Northeast, Vikki Mitchelmore, Kelsey Taylor and Sarah Smith — who takes over as captain — were all among the squad who travelled for the season opener at Bideford.

But it was Boyling who caught the eye with four of T&D's goals in a 5-2 success.

Wing back Holly Wines and Laura Hawkins immediately found the wide open space of Bideford's ground to their liking, but it was a crunching midfield tackle from Northeast that set up the first goal.

The resulting loose ball confused Bideford's defence, and Boyling pounced to slot the ball into an unguarded net.

The same duo combined again to restore T&D's lead after the home had equalised through Jess Pearce — Northeast's defence-splitting pass enabled Boyling to round the keeper and make it 2-1.

Bideford equalised again through Pearce early in the second half with a great shot that gave goalkeeper Beth Marshall no chance.

But Boyling netted her hat-trick to restore the lead, before setting up fellow striker Taylor to make it 4-2.

Boyling saved her best until last, though, curling a majestic 25-yarder past the home goalkeeper who could only stand and watch in admiration.

Stoke Gabriel had to settle for a point in their Premier Division opener at Exeter & Tedburn Rangers, which ended in a 4-4 draw.

Millie Lake's double was backed up by strikes from April Chudleigh and Mel Woodmore for Stoke.

Meanwhile, Lisa Chapman was Plainmoor's only scorer as they went down 10-1 at home to Activate.

BRIXHAM VILLA are off and running in Division One after a stirring comeback saw them beat Phoenix Club 5-3.

Things looked grim after 12 minutes with Villa 2-0 down, but Vanessa May played the ball into the path of fellow striker Leanne Hunt to coolly placed the ball past the advancing keeper and halve the deficit.

The roles were reversed on 24 minutes when a Hunt corner wasn't held by the Phoenix keeper, and May reacted quickest to drill home the equaliser.

Five minutes before half-time Villa took the lead. Meghan Pearce played the ball wide down the left wing, striker Hunt latched onto the ball, cut inside the full-back and drove the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area.

A great move involving Lucy Wood, Kirsty Lewis and Hunt allowed Bev Head to stroke home a fourth after 49 minutes.

Phoenix stayed in the hunt and pulled it back to 4-3 with a 25-yard drive that gave keeper Sarah Webster no chance.

They had some good chances to equalise in a tense finale, but Hunt — named Villa's 'gromit' player of the match — made the game safe with three minutes to go when she blasted home from a narrow angle to complete her hat-trick and make it 5-3.

Bay Ladies, formerly Paignton Pilgrims, also made a winning start with a 6-4 success at AFC Plympton.

But LFC Sparta's Devon League debut was abandoned after 60 minutes after they lost too many players through injury to be able to finish the game.

They were 10-0 down at the time against Feniton, and the league committee will review the circumstances before deciding if the result stands.