England Basketball League Division 1: West Anglia Fury 78, Taunton Tigers 87.

TAUNTON Tigers registered their first Division One victory despite a five-hour road trip and the absence of head coach Ronnie Heath, in South Africa on business.

They maintained their steady improvement since promotion with a solid performance against West Anglia Fury which gave them a first league win after four games.

With both sides having key players side-lined through injury - Tigers' Rich Anderson and Matt Nolan were out with leg injuries - the game was always likely to depend on how each team could adapt.

Despite Fury's two American imports, it was Tigers' Coach Rich Anderson's ability to constantly rotate his deeper bench to maintain their intensity that made the difference.

Another determined start enabled Taunton to get away to a 10-2 lead before an unanswered ten-point run by the home team. But the Tigers' took a three-point lead by the first break.

The young Tigers made a positive start to the second quarter with Joe Andrews (17 points) finding his form of previous seasons. An 11-0 run enabled them to stretch their lead to 14.

The pressure on the home side was maintained and with Paul Yabsley (20 points) later adding six points in the space of a minute, the Tigers went to the locker room ahead 45-31.

A poor opening to the second half by the Tigers enabled the Fury to reduce the deficit by half and some needless turn-overs saw them close the gap to two. However, back-to-back threes by Bird and a basket on the buzzer' by Andrews restored a seven-point advantage at the final break.

Despite some determined play and an eight-point contribution in the final quarter by Fury's American point-guard Lamar Hull (26 points) and six from his 6ft8in compatriot Charlie Whitfield (20 points), Tigers maintained their composure.

All attempts by the home side to gain any advantage by fouling to stop the clock in the last quarter were punished by Taunton who maintained their improved free-throw shooting, by netting ten of their 12 foul shots.

Even though ex-Bath Romans man Richard Milbourne (21 points) added two last minute threes, Taunton secured that elusive first win at this higher level.

Tigers' coach Rich Anderson said: "This was a must-win game for us and we got the result we deserved.

"We were able to maintain our intensity in all areas for most of the game - although there were a few minor hiccups, so we need to work on these. Player confidence is growing and at over 80%, our shooting from the line continues to improve. Everyone in the squad contributed and got onto the scoresheet. This and recent week's performances demonstrate that we can compete at this level."

l TAUNTON Tigers' EBL Division One home game has been cancelled as West Herts Warriors have withdrawn from the league.

Instead, the Tigers are holding a junior 3x3 tournament from 2.30pm at the Wellsprings Leisure Centre. It is open to all children aged six to 11. See www.tauntontigers.co.uk for details.

Tigers' next game is away to Bristol Academy Flyers on Saturday, December 9, with the next home match against Reading Rockets on December 16 (3.30pm).