HEREFORDSHIRE visited Cheltenham for their last Middleton Cup match of the season against Gloucestershire but unfortunately the match had to be abandoned with 30 ends to play when torrential rain flooded the green with the home team leading by 16 shots.

As more than 72 ends were played, the score stood as a final result with Gloucestershire winning four rinks, Herefordshire one rink, and the other drawn. This gave Gloucestershire 19 points and Herefordshire three points.

Herefordshire, who had lost their previous three matches in the competition, had to call upon the services of four selectors present at the match to make up their team, due to the late withdrawal of three selected players and the non-appearance of reserves.

Herefordshire's best result came from the rink skipped by R Gwilliam who led 18-8 after 14 ends, with Mike Rickett's rink drawing 12-12 after 16 ends.

The rink skipped by John Harris was down 12-14 after 14 ends, with Dave Magness finishing 12-15 after 16 ends.

The heaviest defeats were incurred by Dave Holloway, 11-22 down after 20 ends, and Ron Bithell, who lost by 14-24 after 16.

Herefordshire's altered team played well to the extent that the original selections were never missed and, had the match been completed, they could well have been successful against high-quality opposition.

Gloucestershire 95 Herefordshire 79 (Herefordshire rink scores): J Watkins, B Payne, G Phillips, R Gwilliam 18-8; T King, R Walker, P Williams, M Ricketts 12-12; J Wear, G Merredy, P Middleton, J Harris 12-14; J Pedlingham, P Holland, R Jones, D Magness 12-15; K Ham, F Harwood, J Bathurst, R Bithell 14-24; A Mann, D Waters, B Cade, D Holloway 11-22.

Eastnor A recovered from defeat at the hands of their B team to inflict the first defeat on Section A leaders Ross-on-Wye B in the Herefordshire League. Ledbury hold the key pisition in the section with home and away matches to play against the top two.

Leominster B are in a strong position in Section B after defeating Ross A who beat Leominster A by 11 shots.

HEREFORDSHIRE LEAGUE

Section A

P W D L Sht Pt

Ross B 7 6 0 1 +90 33

Eastnor A 7 5 0 2 +69 32

Ledbury 6 5 0 1 +38 24

Eastnor B 7 2 0 5 -36 17

Castle Green 7 2 0 5 -42 13

Brimfield 7 1 0 6 -119 7

Section B

Leominster B 5 5 0 0 +110 30

Leominster A 6 4 0 2 +6 22

St Martin's B 5 3 0 2 -9 16

Ross A 6 2 0 4 -33 12

St Martin's A 5 0 0 5 -74 4

n Kington have gone clear at the top of the Nash Rocks League after beating visiting Wellington. They have two games in hand over second-placed Leominster who lost at both Brimfield and Kingsland.

Reigning champions Hay-on-Wye have won their last three matches in convincing style to climb the table.

Results: Hay 96, Brimfield 66; Brimfield 123, Leominster 117; Kingsland 160, Leominster 101; Kington 100, Wellington 64; Wiggin Three Elms 54, Hay-on-Wye 83.

n Leominster won the Travelsphere County final on an 18-shot difference after drawing 2-2 on points with Eastnor.

Herefordshire Ladies' League: Leominster 42, Weobley 58.

Hereford Times Cup: Castle Green 74, Kingsland 51.

Friendlies: Castle Green 62, Bulmers 75; Castle Green 90, St Martin's 92; Leominster 150, Herefordshire County Presidents 155; Leominster 117, Cirencester 99; St Martin's 104, Bulmers 106; St Martin's 65 Belmont-on-Wye 86.

n Entries are open for the St Martin's 25th open youth singles championship for the Anning Jubilee Cup on Sunday, September 2.

The competition has produced a high standard of play over the 25 years and has encouraged young people to take an interest in bowling alongside other sports.

Entries from boys and girls aged 18 or under should be with organiser Frank Harwood, 110 Quarry Road, Hereford, HR1 1SU (phone 01432 276007) by Saturday, August 18.