Sidmouth Golf Club’s 10 man Seniors’ Emerton Court Trophy team halved their first leg away against Woolacome and Morthoe Golf Club, writes John Rockey.

The trophy is played between 38 clubs in Devon on a home and away basis, with the overall winner going through the next round. The start was delayed for over two hours to let the heavy mist blow away. Eventually, play got under way in very tricky conditions with the Sidmouth players not only dealing with a strange course, but also giving lots of shots to the home teams.

Leading from the front was team captain Peter Spooner and Chris Ashley who won 1 up, having managed to win the last two holes and turn a one hole deficit into a win on the last hole.

The new partnership of Trevor Kerridge and Pat McCormack had a very good 3 and 1 win to give two points to Sidmouth after two matches. Normally, two points on an away course is more than can be expected in this competition and, when the next pairing of Club Captain Dave Hoare and John Rockey managed a half, by winning the final hole, Sidmouth were put in a very strong position for the return leg.

Alec Salway and his new partner Ray Gunston narrowly lost 2 and 1 and Bob Welsman with Mick Baden went down 3 and 1 as the mist started to roll in. However, both teams were even after the first leg. The return leg was played with glorious sunshine bathing the course and the Sidmouth team relishing the conditions to win 5-0 for an overall 7 � to 2 � win. Sidmouth will now play Tiverton in the next round.

?Sidmouth, the defending East Devon League champions, made a great start to the new season with a 5-0 win over Woodbury Park in a match played on a neutral course at Exminster. Sidmouth were always in control of two of the matches with Paul Hichcock and Trevor Kerridge, as well as Stuart Coles and Terry Jones getting convincing 4 and 3 victories. Nick Gingell and Jonathon Lee also had a good start and continued to play well to win a tight match 1 up.

It didn’t look too good for David Bater and Duncan Taylor. At the turn they were three down, but they got themselves together on the back nine to win four holes on the trot to win on the 17th. Team captain Lewis Perry and Paddy Tallon were going down the last hole all square. However, captain Lewis holed a 15 foot downhill put on the final green to win 1 up to seal an emphatic victory.