HEREFORDSHIRE'S Minor Coun-ties Championship campaign got off to a disappointing start with a 211-run defeat by Cheshire at Luctonians.

The home side had seemed to be well in the game when they reduced the visitors to 228-8 in their first innings, included in which was a century from former England player Chris Schofield, who made exactly 100.

But a ninth-wicket stand of 104 between Jason Whittaker (73) and former Notts bowler David Pennett (37) boosted the total to 334 all out and, after that, the visitors rarely seemed in trouble.

Herefordshire were dismissed in their first innings for 205 and were never seriously in with a hope of chasing a target of 414 to win after skipper Andrew Hall had closed Cheshire's second innings at 284-9. David Exall had taken 4-40 and Richard Parker, 3-63, for the home county.

By the close of the second day, Herefordshire were struggling at 87-4 with victory well out of reach, particularly as Harshad Patel (20) and Peter Trego (45), two of the batsmen capable of playing a substantial innings, were already back in the pavilion.

On the final morning, there was some brave resistance from skipper Chris Boroughs (46), David Exall (18) and 16-year-old Omar Ali (19 not out). But the Cheshire spin trio of Nathan Dumelow (5-54), Robin Fisher (3-47) and Schofield (1-56) proved too strong and the match ended just before lunch on the third day.

This was Herefordshire's heaviest home defeat in their 14 seasons of Minor Counties competition.

"We desperately missed Matthew Rawnsley, who is a better spinner than anything Cheshire had on view," said Herefordshire's chairman of selectors Malcolm Morgan.

"He would almost certainly have bowled from one end for most of the two Cheshire innings."

Rawnsley will return to the Herefordshire squad for their MCCA first round trophy clash with Bedfordshire, also at Luctonians, on Sunday, starting 11am.

The left-arm spinner will be joined in the side by a former Worcester-shire colleague James Brinkley, as well as ex-England paceman Martin McCague, who is likely to play as a specialist batsman.

Opening batsmen Richard Hall will also return after missing the Cheshire match due to work commitments.

The match will be the first meeting between the two counties.

Herefordshire: Chris Boroughs (capt), Harshad Patel, Richard Hall, Peter Trego, Matthew Rawnsley, Martin McCague, James Brinkley, David Exall, Omar Ali, Duncan Willetts, Richard Parker.

Scored: see Cricket