After their earlier success against Cornwall, Sidmouth’s level play golf croquet team entertained local rivals Budleigh Salterton on a blustery, showery day, writes David Butler

Against a very strong Budleigh team Sidmouth got off to a fine start winning five of the eight singles matches held in the morning session, with the four doubles games being shared two each.

Michael Hide, Philip Harris and Ian Simpson all secured valuable points for the home team. Sidmouth’s lunch time lead proved short, however, with Budleigh fighting back in some very closely contested games. After nearly five hours of competition, the final match was played between the two team captains - Graeme Pryor, who had won all his previous games for Sidmouth, against Rob Weeks, Budleigh’s strongest player.

A very tense game ensued with Graeme securing a six-all draw to narrow the scores to a difference of just one point, with Budleigh running out overall winners with ten-and-a-half points to Sidmouth’s nine-and-a-half.

It was, none the less, a very creditable result for the home team in a hard-fought contest played in the friendliest way was concluded with a fine tea provided by Gill Hodge.