HEREFORDSHIRE have qualified for the regional semi-finals of the National Under-25 Double Rink Champion-ship after a 37-28 victory over neighbours Worcestershire at Droitwich Spa.

The game should have been played the previous week but had to be put back due to heavy rain. This time the weather was a lot kinder and the match was played in glorious sunshine.

One rink consisting of Tom Churchill (Eastnor), Russell Carpenter (Hereford), Luke Harwood (Kington) and Ben Harwood (Hereford) had the start that was needed, winning nine of the first 12 ends, including a four on the ninth end, to hold a 15-4 lead.

Worcestershire rallied over the next five ends by winning four of them but the Herefordshire rink kept the scores down by only conceding six shots. The rink was the first to finish with a lead of 19-13.

The other rink consisting of Daniel Holmes (Ledbury), Stephen Smith (Ledbury), Matthew Cooke (Leominster) and Shaun Jones (Hereford) had a much tighter game.

After five ends they found themselves 2-5 down but by the ninth end they were back on level terms at 9-9.

On the 12th end they dropped a three but this proved to the turning point for the rink.

Over the next eight ends they won six to hold an 18-15 lead and this was proved enough when their opponents conceded victory.

The regional semi-final takes place at Bath Bowling Club on June 17.