HEREFORDSHIRE'S county short mat bowls team were celebrating after an excellent win over Gloucestershire, their former partner county, at Gloucester University on Sunday.

As the two sides used to play together as a combined county team, the rivalry was enhanced with Herefordshire getting off to an excellent start as they won five and drew one of the eight morning matches to lead by 11 points to five.

The county side then maintained their form in the afternoon session, winning a further five matches to triumph 25-11.

In particularly good form were the fours team of Brenda Mollett, Sandra Rogers, Frank Garrett and David Gardiner who won both their games. There were double successes also for singles player Fred Jolley and the triples team of Margaret Eggleton, John Stannard and James Zimmerman.

This year's annual charity competition held by Herefordshire Short Mat Bowls Association for the Macmillan Cancer Relief Trophy raised £1,162.

Twenty four teams, mainly from Herefordshire, took part and the winners, from Woolhope, were Anthony, Philip and Sandra Rogers and Les Griffiths with Fownhope, represented by Roger Hunt, Margaret Louis, Brenda Mollett and Ron Price, claiming second spot.

l The new contact for Sellack Short Mat Bowling Club is Sheila Lane, The Coltmoor, Peterchurch HR2 0SW, telephone 01981 550648.