Kington failed in their bid to become the first Herefordshire team to lift the Hargrove Trophy since it was started in 1956 when they went down 3-0 in the second leg of the final at Hawkstone Park to lose 4-2 on aggregate.

Knowing that they faced a difficult task to sneak a win which might well have given them overall victory, Kington fell behind in all three matches in the early stages.

County junior Billy Mills struck an important blow for Hawkstone at the opening hole of the first match when he redeemed a poor drive from his junior colleague Sam Breakes to fire a mid-iron second shot to within a foot into the teeth of a gale.

Kington's Ed Deasey had rifled a superb opening drive within pitching distance of the green, but, although partner Matt Weaver had found the green with a neat chip, the Kington duo found themselves a hole down after Deasey failed to convert the birdie putt.

This seemed to set the pattern as all three Kington pairs battled well but slipped behind as their hosts ground out the pars in the very awkward conditions.

Things brightened up for Kington when anchor pair Darren Richards and Alan Williams fought back with a couple of birdies to go one up after 11 holes.

However, they were immediately reined back on the short 12th hole when Hawkstone got down in two from off the green and the Kington pair three-putted as they went for the birdie putt to take them two-up.

Kington's second pair of Stewart Franks and Matt Davies had recovered from a slow start to stand one down at the turn, but they slipped a couple of holes before losing three and two.

The visitors still had a slim chance as the last pair played the 16th needing to win the remaining three holes for a possible victory. Williams hit the short par four with a superb drive, but any lingering hopes of a win vanished when Hawkstone got up and down in brilliant fashion for a birdie, and Kington, needing to hole the eagle putt to win the hole, three-putted.

That was that, as Kington graciously conceded the match and trophy, after a competitive contest played in a most sporting spirit.