Sidmouth Seniors travelled all the way to Exeter for their match at the beautiful parkland course, writes John Bainbridge.

Many love to play Exeter with its open fairways and small chance of losing balls. Seniors’ captain John Bainbridge and Colin Paddon got the match off to a good start with both being on the first green in two. However, their joy was shortlived when the Exeter Captain, Rob Fairclough, chipped in from off the green to win the hole. Muttering about early days, the Sidmouth pair seemed to have shot their bolt rather early, and gradually fell away to five down with six to play.

A late flourish winning the 14th and 15th was shortlived giving a loss of 3 and 2. Next out, Roger Freer and Rob Owen gelled well together with Owen playing the first nine well and Freer coming good on the back nine. A close match with Sidmouth one up on the 15th, ended all square.

John Saunders and Nigel Sharp started well, but with four putts on the third for Sharp the Exeter team changed up a gear, to win the match 8 and 7.

The fourth pairing out of Mike Anderson and Mike Teague enjoyed the Exeter course and were two up after four.

With thanks to their over-generous hosts, the Anderson and Teague maintained their lead to win the match 6 and 4.

Mick Sherry and Charles Oram were both playing Exeter for the first time but, with attentive hosts they found their way around the course. Only one down at the turn, they suffered slightly from a lack of familiarity with some of the holes on the back nine and eventually went down 5 and 3.

The last pairing out was the experienced Roger Bawden and Colston Herbert. This match was very close throughout and was still all square by the 14th.

Unfortunately, a senior moment by Bawden, in playing the wrong ball on 15th, gave Exeter the edge which they held on to winning the match by one hole.

At the after dinner speeches, John Bainbridge put out an appeal for ball donations for Colin Paddon who managed to lose four balls during their round on this wide open course. Result Sidmouth 1�, Exeter 4�.