Dartmouth is always a popular course, so John Bainbridge had a list as long as his arm from which to choose a team, writes Terry Carter.

First off, he and Roger Bawden were evenly matched with Dartmouth’s Mike Woodley and Alan Goldthorpe, with Goldthorpe giving two shots to the other three.

Last week I mentioned golfers’ favourite excuses when they lose, and I was reminded of another when I was told that the opponents had played brilliantly.

An eye watering eight and six defeat left David Bromage and Mike Fisher working to pull back the point in a close game. Nothing in it until the 13th, the home pair pulled away to win 5 and 4 for another Dartmouth point. This was as bad as it got for Sidmouth, with Ken Rothwell and Barry Jones winning the first, and staying two up for most the game. However, in a tough game home pair David Rowsell and Alan Hepburn drew level on the 17th and won the last for another point.

Charles Brown and John Hicks were next off receiving four and three shots respectively, and took full advantage when they halved the first three holes then won the fourth.

This turned out be yet another close game, with the home pair eventually easing in front for a narrow 2 and 1 win to ensure victory for Dartmouth.

Next off, Mike Anderson was giving shots all round as he and Mike Teague worked hard to salvage a point, winning the first before going three down by the turn.

They did well to pull it back to level by the 15th, but lost the next two holes for another close 2 and 1 defeat.

Bainbridge told me he had high hopes for the next pairing, as having already decided it is always best to put Colin Paddon out last, he added the experienced Peter Emery for a strong finishing furlong.

Unfortunately they lost the first four holes, and were five down before fighting back to win the 11th and 12th. They finally lost 4 and 3, still leaving their captain with the honour of collecting the match fees after dinner.

Result: Dartmouth 6, Sidmouth 0

John Bainbridge was grateful for home advantage as he led off partnering Colston Herbert against Ilfracombe, writes Terry Carter.

Both were receiving shots from John Pugh, who with his partner Alan Rowlands were two up at the turn. As usual lifting their game as they got closer to the clubhouse, Sid’s pair were two up with three to play, but lost the last three holes to give the first point to Ilfracombe.

Next off, Ray Gunston and Rod Wallace started well to go four up at the turn, but, despite a strong fight back on the back nine by the visitors, nevertheless hung on in this tough game to win on the last.

The next game off was interesting but close throughout, with Chris Ashley off eight, giving nine and 11 shots respectively to the visiting pair and 11 to his partner Vernon Ruffle. Never more than one hole in it, on the 17th Ashley put his tee shot in the field on the left and Ruffle four putted to let the visitors in and win on the last.

Mick Munro and Rob Owen calmed the captain’s shattered nerves by bringing the match back to level. They worked well together with Owen chipping and putting to good effect for a fine 5 and 4 win, and John Townsend with Dieter Ritz in the next game out secured a valuable point for Sidmouth.

This was another tough game, level as they teed off on the last and finally settled when Townsend won the par four for a point to put Sidmouth one up. Finally, Colin Paddon and Colin Mitchell never got their game together despite receiving shots, and lost 4 and 3 to gift Ilfracombe an away draw. Result: Sidmouth 3 Ilfracombe 3

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