THIRTY-degree temperatures and superior opponents on the day put paid to The Rolls of Monmouth's attempts to end a dismal run of away defeats this season, when they went down four-and-a-half to one-and-a-half at The Herefordshire Golf Club on 13th July.

Team coach Geoff Walsh's selection for this local derby was based on the peak physical fitness of the squad as much as individual golfing prowess but the conditions proved too arduous for most of the elite athletes.

Walsh, perhaps unsurprisingly, selected the founding father of this fixture, Graham Holder, to partner him in the anchor match in the knowledge that Holder's current injury problems would necessitate the use of a two-seater buggy to carry them in shaded luxury around the sun scorched course.

This tactic worked, as their energy reserves enabled them to reel off a barrage of pars and birdies over the closing holes to pull back a three-hole deficit with four to play and they were unlucky not to clinch an outright win at the last hole.

Earlier, club captain Mike Maguire led the team into battle with local avionics expert Alex Badram.

Alas, they were no match for the Herefordshire pairing of Ken Baker and Ian Foster, losing two down. Worse was to follow when the exciting duo of Adrian Clark and Steve Scott burnt out early in the sweltering conditions and fell to a crushing six and four defeat at the hands of Dave Gwynne and Tony Burton.

Russell Webb and Alastair Beedie, who had both undertaken high altitude training at Kington in preparation for this tough match, put up stiffer opposition only to be beaten at the last hole by Emyr Saer and Angus Craig.

Veteran stalwart Tim Barker and lumberjack Richard Gable bravely succumbed by the same one-hole result to The Herefordshire's Tutty and Gallagher.

The pick of the Rolls team were Roger Lord and Peter Woodrow. Armed with a thick coating of factor 30 sun block and gallons of water, they overcame all the odds and convincingly despatched their lower handicap opponents of Smith and Harrison by five and four.

Walsh is believed to be considering psychological profiling as part of his methodology for his next team selection.

Founders' Cup

On a rain softened golf course, a large number of men and lady golfers turned out for the annual Founders' Cup competition held on Sunday 28th July.

The gentler conditions sparked a riot of high scores with club captain Mike Maguire storming to victory in the men's section with 42 points ahead of Ian Lewis in second spot with 40 points and local construction specialist Richard Philips in third place with 39 points, ahead of Dave Mason on count back.

The day proved a clean sweep for the captains, with ladies captain Jan Lyon winning the ladies section with 37 points.