Leominster'S bid for a place in the semi-finals of the Hargrove Plate was thwarted for a second time by the persistent rain that blighted the county and closed part of the Ford Bridge course.

The club have been granted an extension to complete the second leg of their quarter-final tie against neighbours Ludlow, which is interestingly poised at 2-1 to Ludlow who were also nine holes up after the first leg.

They will attempt to complete the tie on Saturday and if necessary will play a composite course to resolve the match.

The scheduled dates of the semi-final involving either Leominster or Ludlow have been put back a week, the two legs taking place on February 22 and 29 respectively.

n Competition for places in the RT Banfield Trophy at Ross-on-Wye in March is hotting up with eight new competitors emerging from the February stableford, the fourth qualifier of the season.

Paul Warwick, who has already qualified, led the way with 42 points to win division 1, the same as the winner of division 2, Peter Metcalfe.

The eight new qualifiers were, division 1 (0-14): Barry Robbins 39 pts, Chris Bullock 39, Stuart Jones 38 and Martin Main 38; division 2 (15-28): Peter Metcalfe 42, Paul Meddings 40, Gerry Whelan 39, Henry Savage 38.

n Promising youngster Jack Larkin achieved a notable double when he partnered Shaun Vivian to reach the final of the Hereford Municipal Winter Pairs and then won the February medal in blustery conditions with a nett 63.

Results, Winter Pairs, semi-finals: Jack Larkin and Shaun Vivian beat Amy Warley and Malcolm Keddie 2 and 1; Dave Wooles and Duncan Smith beat Lesley Turbett and Andy Bowen 2 and 1.

January medal: 1 Jack Larkin 84-21-63, 2 Rob Pugh 87-22-65, 3 James Marsh 101-32-69, 4 Terry Robinson 94-22-72.

n Competitors at Burghill Valley took advantage of a shortened winter course with no fewer than three players posting 47 points in the January stableford, Les Jones coming out on top after a card countback.

Results, January stableford, division 1: 1 Andy Preece 45 pts, 2 Lou Haines 45, 3 Dave Cox 42; division 2: 1 Les Jones 47, 2 Kevin Wallace 47, 3 Sam Salmon 47.

Senior February medal, division 1: 1 Brian Smith 86-17-69, 2 Brian Donaldson 90-19-71, 3 Trevor Waldron 88-16-72; division 2: 1 Peter Louis 92-27-65, 2 Tom Inglis 91-23-68, 3 Nick Previte 99-27-72.

Three clubs and a putter, mixed stableford challenge: 1 Carla Doyle and Matt Shaw 41 pts, 2 Vicky and Mark Howells 40, 3 Mary Crockett and Jamie Morris 40, 4 Lynda and Brian Vaughan 38.

n Retiring Herefordshire GC senior captain Reg Dudman finished his year in office with a friendly charity challenge match between the Herefordians and the Incomers.

Although the Incomers won 12-10, the real winner was the Acorns Children's Hospice Appeal, which benefited to the tune of £80.

A well attended annual general meeting of the senior section welcomed Bob Bemand as their captain for 2004, with Frank Greatorex taking over as vice-captain.

Bemand's first job was to present the following trophies - Harry Parkes Cup to Geoff Gobey and Ian McIntosh; Peter Wright Putter to Ces Morgan; Frank Cox Award to Graham Rees; Davies-Elson Award to Brian Matthews, and the Sherwood Cup to Philip Watkins.

Des Mussell led the way in the club February medal with a splendid nett 64 to win division 2, with Roy Joshua taking the honours in division 1.

Results, division 1 (0-14): 1 Roy Joshua 76-7-69, 2 Gerald Morris 80-11-69, 3 Brian Matthews 75-5-70; division 2 (15-28): 1 Des Mussell 86-22-64, 2 Nigel Yarwood 92-23-69, 3 Carl Owen 88-18-70.

George Field bagged his second hole in one when his tee-shot found the bottom of the cup on the par-three 13th hole in a friendly match.

n Murray Mackintosh may well attract the attention of Kington's handicapping committee in their annual review after continuing his excellent form with a double in the latest Winter competitions.

He and his partner Mike Waygood took the weather-shortened 12-hole pairs stableford event with 31 points and then defied gale-force winds to post a top score of 39 points in winning the individual February stableford.

Results, 12-hole pairs: 1 Murray Mackintosh and Mike Waygood 31 pts, 2 Garry Moore and Tony Stokes 30, 3 Joe James and Adam Handley 30.

February stableford, overall winner: Murray Mackintosh 39 pts; division 1 (0-9): 1 Roger Richards 34, 2 Matt Davies 32; division 2 (10-14): Kevin Powell 34, 2 Geoff Brown 30; division 3: 1 Ray Evans 35, 2 Darren Burns 34.

Senior greensome foursomes stableford: 1 Eddie Winstone and Bryan Betts 38 pts, 2 Stan Arnold and John Williams 37, 3 Arthur Thompson and Dave Lacey 35.

n Alex Shave won Brock-ington's February stableford, played in difficult conditions, by one point from three others who were placed on countback.

Results: Alex Shave (20) 33 pts, 2 Peter Boughey (14) 32, 3 Paul Hoskins (20) 32, 4 Brian Jones (17) 32.