HEREFORDSHIRE CBA met Leicestershire BA in a Middleton Cup trial match at Eastnor and, although beaten 121-98, did well enough to suggest that team manager Dave Magness has assembled a squad of players that could well provide some of the success that has been lacking in the competition in recent years.

Leicestershire reached the quarter-final of the competition last season, but they were fully stretched on four of the six rinks, with the other two accounting for 21 of the 23-shot deficit.

Marcus Smith skipped his rink to a 17-16 victory in a very tight game, while Rob Gwilliam held on for an 18-18 tie after leading 18-10 with five ends to play.

Barry Payne's rink were pipped 15-16 in a game in which neither team was ever more than two shots ahead, and the rink skipped by Ian Maddox was unfortunate to go down 18-20 in another tight game.

Mark Lovelock's rink fought back from 1-13 at nine ends but could only manage to score on seven ends and finally lost 13-24, while Ron Perry won 10 ends, although defeated 17-27.

n Kington's good start to the Nash Rocks League continued with victory over Hereford.

Hereford bounced back to beat visiting St Martin's in a midweek local derby and won all four rinks for the maximum 16 points.

All matches have so far have gone to the home clubs and Kington have taken an early lead with an unbeaten record.

Nash Rocks League results: Kington 94 (home rinks W3, L1) Hereford 72; Brimfield 99 (W3, L1) St Martin's 56; Hereford 92 (W4), St Martin's 46; Kington 94 (W3, L1), Weobley 59.