HEREFORDSHIRE CBA have opened their season with two defeats in home and away matches.

They started against Monmouthshire at Kington and were well beaten on an excellent green by 155 shots to 87 with the visitors achieving victory on five rinks and the remaining rink finishing level.

Herefordshire's best result was achieved by the rink skipped by Ron Perry, ably backed by Harry Cook, Jack Gray and John Bevan, who fought back from 14-4 down to finish level at 21-21, while the all Ledbury rink, skipped by Don Pugh, fought back from 21-11 down after 15 ends to win five of the remaining ends and were very fortunate to go down narrowly 24-22.

President Dave Holloway's rink had a bad start and were down 15-2 after seven ends and found the early deficit too much, finally losing 30-15, while the rink skipped by Mansell Havard was always behind and lost 25-9.

The Kington rink skipped by Brynley Powell went down 27-10, and the rink skipped by Frank Harwood lost 16 shots in the last five ends to go down 28-10.

The county bowlers followed on with a match against West Glamorgan at Ystradgynlais but lost on four rinks in a 128-101.

Don Pugh skipped the highest winning rink in a game where they were down 10-7 at 10 ends but recovered well, finishing with a spectacular five on the last end to win 24-18.

The rink skipped by John Wear had a tight, low-scoring game against David Evans, the president of the Welsh Bowling Association, but Hereford were never behind and won 16-12.

President Dave Holloway's rink had a very tight game and were very unfortunate to go down 19-17, while the rink skipped by Ken Edwards could not recover from a 19-8 deficit after 16 ends and lost 22-15.

Ron Perry's rink were level at 11-11 after 12 ends, but scored on only one of the remaining ends to go down 25-12, and the heaviest defeat was suffered by Frank Harwood's rink who were level at 16-16 after 12 ends, but won only one of the remaining ends to finish 32-17 down.

Herefordshire's next match is against the English Civil Service at Kingsland next Thursday, starting at 2.30pm. Spectators are welcome.