HEREFORDSHIRE is set to be appointed a Hot Spot area for bowls.

The Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire is one of seven county sports partnerships to be awarded the honour by the Bowls Development Alliance.

It means county bowls clubs and players can enjoy increased support and benefits such as better access to coaches, facilities, bowls days and disability events throughout 2015.

A bowls club development evening at Hereford Sixth Form College next Wednesday (10th) from 7pmwill kick-off the 12-month programme and enable clubs to find out more about the project and the support available to them.

“This is a great opportunity to develop the sport of bowls in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and help more people to enjoy the sport," said Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire director, Stephen Brewster.

"We will be looking forward to utilising the area’s fantastic facilities and establishing a long lasting impact for the project."

For more information, contact the area's partnership lead officer Sue Bentley on 01905 542035 or email s.bentley@worc.ac.uk

Meanwhile on the greens, each of the county teams has completed the six matches in their respective regional qualifying group in the national inter-county championships.

The Premier team suffered home and away defeats to rivals Gloucestershire but won all four matches against Wiltshire and Worcestershire to secure second place in the group and a spot in the main national knockout competition in the New Year.

Becci Cox, the Premier team captain, has reason to be pleased with the squad’s form as five of the six matches in their group producing better results for Herefordshire than the equivalent matches last season.

The A team has also improved on the previous season’s performance with three wins and three defeats in their regional group.

Although they currently lead their group, the final positions will be determined by the remaining match between Avon and Oxfordshire which is likely to leave Herefordshire in second place. They should still progress to the main national knockout stage, however.