Seniors enjoy match at Axe Cliff

Despite a damp weather forecast, Sidmouth’s seniors enjoyed fine, if breezy, conditions at Axe Cliff for one of only three matches remaining this season.

In a shrewd move, Ray Gunston chose Chris Ashley as his partner in an attempt to improve his statistics, and it appeared to have paid off over the early stages of their game.

All square after 11, the Sidmouth pair then lost the 12th, halved the next, but lost the 14th to Bryan Blackwood‘s putt for par. This was followed by another two holes lost to par and it was all over with a four and two win for the home pair.

In their game Roger Bawden and Terry Blackler hit the ground running, if that’s possible for a senior, by winning the first. However, they then reverted to normal pace and strolled leisurely to a six and five defeat.

Brian Cole and Paul Blay were next off with Brian giving the shots, and they also got off to a good start by going two up after four holes. In a strong recovery, Axe Cliff’s pair was one up by the turn and finally closed the game down two and one.

John Saunders and I were next off against Rob Grove and Jack Bannister, and I had assumed that, when John had arrived wearing his sweater inside out, it was just an easy mistake for a senior to make.

However, John is clearly superstitious and apparently it brings good luck to the wearer, for, despite losing the first hole, we won the next three.

Ex-Honiton captain Rob Grove had made an unusually poor start, but soon found his form, and the Sidmouth pair arrived on the 18th tee pleased to be all square. However, Jack Bannister was receiving nine shots, and unfortunately for us the last hole is index 9!

I missed my putt to match his net par, and we were left having to explain another lost point to the Captain.

At this stage in the proceedings, Ray Gunston started to consider the aggregate score ploy for his after dinner speech, and help was at hand from an unexpected quarter.

Peter Emery had been hand picked by his captain for the match against Tiverton last week, but had apparently failed to cut the mustard, and was now playing in the second last game out with Brian Le Masurier.

Peter was giving the shots, but he and Le Mas were in top form and won three and two to cheer up the Captain.

Last off were Richard Whiddon and Brian Skittrell, and, despite giving shots to the home pair, they fought hard to arrive on the 16th tee all square. With the threatened heavy rain shower by then over the course, an exciting finish saw Sidmouth’s pair edge ahead and halve the last to win one up.

With his match lost 4-2, but home and away aggregate win secure, the Captain again had to be restrained from providing all Axe Cliff and Sidmouth golfers with liqueurs to accompany their coffees.

Result: Axe Cliff 4, Sidmouth 2.