HEREFORDSHIRE beat Mid Glamorgan in a rain-affected bowls match at Kingsland yesterday.

After five ends, Herefordshire were up on five rinks and down on just one to give them a 23-19 lead.

Over the next five ends, the county built on their lead to be 53-36 shots up before the rain increased.

At this point, it was decided to finish the match on 12 ends, with Herefordshire still up on five rinks.

Therefore, Herefordshire won the match 58-43.

It was the second match in succession that rain affected proceedings, with last Saturday's encounter against Hertfordshire Tourists being abandoned at Bulmers Bowling Club after just one end.

Prior to that, Herefordshire lost 143-93 to Oxfordshire at Eastnor.

The only winning rink was skipped by Don Pugh (Ledbury) and he was supported by Malcolm Simpson (Bodenham), Geoff Harnwell (Ross-on-Wye) and John Bates (Leominster).

In total, they only dropped six ends.

The rink of David Hall (Bodenham), John Colley (Hereford), Mike Charles (Ledbury) and Alec Tandler (Brimfield) came very close when they went down by just one shot on the last end.

After 11 ends it looked like the rink of Martin Smith (Eardisland), Alex Lowe (Hereford), president Glyn Williams (Ross-on-Wye) and skip David Holloway (Leominster) would have a chance of winning when leading 16-9.

But, on the run, they only picked three shots compared to Oxfordshire’s 20.

In the Middleton Cup, meanwhile, Herefordshire lost to a strong Devon side.

Devon fielded several internationals and won 18 points to four and 137 to 97.

After 12 ends, the scoreboard showed Herefordshire ahead by six shots, but this spurred Devon into action and they dominated the run in to the finish.

Performance of the day went to the rink of Rob Jaynes (Ledbury), Clive Handscombe (Bulmers), Paul Rainthorpe (Ross) and skip Martin Griffiths (Ledbury, after the first end they led to the finish and eventually won 24-13. The other winning rink was an all Ledbury rink consisting of Dan Holmes, Mike Ricketts, Mike Holmes and skip Ryan Atkins,.

After six ends, they were leading 8-1 but Devon won eight of the next nine ends to lead 13-9.

The crucial score came on the 19th end when Herefordshire picked up a five and, despite dropping a three on the last end, they still were 20-16 winners.

After 15 ends it looked like the rink of Colin Walters (Bodenham), Alex Tandler (Brimfield), Tom Holmes (Ledury) and skip Rob Gwilliam (Ross) would win, when they led 13-7.

Over the remaining ends they picked up two against Devon’s 14 to go down 21-15.

The next game is against Gloucestershire at St Martins’s on Saturday, July 9, and if results go well, the county could finish second in the group.

Rink scores: Dan Holmes, Mike Ricketts, Mike Holmes, Ryan Atkins (all Ledbury) 20-16.

Glyn Lloyd (Leominster), Keith Caldicott (St Martins), Russell Jones (Leominster), Phill Williams (Hereford) 12-27.

Colin Walters (Bodenham), Alec Tandler (Brimfield), Tom Holmes (Ledbury), Rob Gwilliam (Ross-on-Wye) 15-24.

John Wear (Hereford), Joe Scamp (Kingsland), Phil Holland (Hereford), Phil Middleton (Ledbury) 14-26.

Glyn Williams (Ross-On-Wye), Malcolm Ehrler (Bulmers), David Magness (Ross-On-Wye), Ashley Edwards (Brimfield) 12-31.

Rob Jaynes (Ledbury), Clive Handscombe (Bulmers), Paul Rainthorpe (Ross-On-Wye), Martin Griffiths (Ledbury) 24-13.

* Herefordshire will have members representing England at the British Isles Championships for the first time today.

Ledbury Bowling Club's Mark Atkins (rinks), Ryan Atkins (rinks) and Tom Holmes (under-18 singles) will compete at the two-day event at Llandrindod Wells.