DESPITE being on the wrong end of three defeats, Bidford's members took great pleasure from their latest outings.

A new format in the Wardrop County Cup competition suited Leamington visitors, Avenue, who won three of the five matches to edge out their hosts who managed wins in the two-wood singles and the fours.

A visit to Blockley ended prematurely because of the rain with the Northwick hosts leading 48-35 after 13 ends. The company and setting were excellent but Bidford, winners on just one rink, were always behind and, trailed 32-12 after eight ends.

The winning captain from Ross-on-Wye remarked in a closing speech on the superb surface at Salford Road - a factor that helped the visitors clinch a one-shot win.

Bidford's best winning rink, one of three, in the 112-111 defeat belonged to Alan Jones, Les Smith, Roy Draper and Alan Halliwell who triumphed 23-10.

Bidford 2, Avenue (Leamington) 3 - Two-Wood Singles: A Jones 16, P Dale 6. Four-Wood Singles: B Tyrrell 15, S Gilbert 21. Pairs: M Onions & R Steventon 14, M Cooper & J Strain 16. Triples: R Harris, D Bennett, A Halliwell 10, P Gilbert, B Rose, N Walker 21. Fours: M Deakins, W Ford, N Undery, I Wilkins 22, J Hughes, E Slater, R Shakespeare, I McKay 15.

Northwick (Blockley) 48, Bidford 35: T Brotherton, D Cooper, R Dyer, L Mulder 6, K Catherall, M Burman, D Mayrick, N Undery 12. T Drinkwater, C Adams, I Sollis, S Drinkwater 14, M Deakins, L Smith, B Sherlock, W Ford 6. P Sheehan, T Coys, C Disley, G Foster 11, R Harris, R Field, N Dixon, D Bennett 10. J Braddock, T Davey, A Shepherd, M Shepherd 17, M Onions, A Davis, P Clarke, B Kendry 7.

Bidford 111, Ross-on-Wye 112: A Jones, L Smith, R Draper, A Halliwell won 23-10. J Sheppard, E Hall, B Sherlock, N Undery lost 28-13. K Catherall, S Cox, P Clarke, D Bennett won 25-17. M Onions, B Groom, L Allen, R Steventon lost 22-12. R Harris, M Burman, R Curtis, R Powell won 22-12. M Deakins, B Stephens, D Mayrick, B Kendry lost 23-16.

EVESHAM earned a fourth successive Concorde League win last Thursday.

Overbury were their latest victims with the hosts winning two of the five rinks but only by narrow margins.

Evesham were winners on three rinks with the four of D Lovegrove, J Fisher, M Parry and G Hunt in top form with a 31-12 triumph.

Rink scores (Evesham first): R Finch, R Linley, W Higginson, N Gould 21, J Carpenter, J Rand, J Meccinision, B Hayward 22. I Marshall, G Oxley, J Mansell, W Hadley 16, G Etchell, J Newton, P Harrison, E Andrews 18. M Webb, A Baister, C Grinnell, J Haines 16, J Kentfield, R Nicholls, R North, R Williams 14. T Hale, D Robbins, B Quartermain, D Welch 20, S Lodge, J McPhie, P Nicholls, M Smith 11. D Lovegrove, J Fisher, M Parry, G Hunt 31, A Brown, D Bartlett, M Jaques, T Norman 12.

Vale Mixed Triples League

P W D L Pts

Littleton Blue 7 7 0 0 56

Evesham 7 7 0 0 56

Littleton Gold 7 3 0 4 36

Pershore 7 3 0 4 34

Broadway 7 3 0 4 32

Aston Red 7 3 0 4 28

Inkberrow 7 2 1 4 28

Weston-sub-Edge 6 3 0 3 26

Aston Gold 6 1 1 4 22

Bredon 7 1 0 6 22