HEREFORDSHIRE went down to a strong Mid Wales side in their first friendly of the season.

The visitors used the match at Weobley Bowling Club to trial their senior squad but it was Herefordshire who started the stronger, taking a 34-31 lead after five ends.

But once the Mid Wales side settled they came back to win overall by 107 to 132.

Top winning rink was Colin Walters (Bodenham), Alec Tandler (Brimfield), David Hall (Bodenham) and guest Ann Walters (Bodenham) who started with a lead of 5-4 on five ends and the game continued to be tight with level scores after 11, 13 and 15 ends. The rink won four of the last five ends to win 18-13.

Herefordshire's only other winning rink was David Holloway (Leominster), Glyn Williams (Ross-On-Wye), Bill Wheatley (Brimfield) and Alex Lowe (Hereford). After three ends they were leading 10-0, mainly thanks to a seven on the second end. Mid Wales won the next four ends to reduce the score to 10-7 and with one end to play the scores were level. However, Herefordshire picked up a critical two to come out winners.

The rink of Russell Jones (Leominster), Mansel Havard (Weobley), Bryan Robinson (Bulmer) and Bob Black (St.Martins) started strongly by picking up two fours and a three in the first eight ends to lead 14-7.

But Mid Wales responded by winning the next two ends with a five and three to lead 14-15. Over the run in they won eight of the remaining ends to finish 18-24 winners.