Sidford Ladies have won the Exeter and District Winter League Division Three title, with neighbours, Sidmouth B, ending the campaign as the runners-up.

The season went all the way through the final match with Sidford requiring five points from their meeting with Newton Abbot to win the division.

For Sidford, Katie Wiltshire and Emma Fidge had convincing wins against both the Newton Abbott first and second pairs.

Jane Chalk and Sidford captain Jacqui Warrender beat the second pair, but lost to the first pair, but sufficient points were gained for the title win to be confirmed.

The other team members for Sidford were Marilyn Barlow, Linda Morton and Sue Billinghurst.

Sidmouth B travelled to Kingsteignton for their final game knowing that four points would secure them the runners-up spot and make sure they got promoted alongside Sidford.

Captain Marlene Maynard and partner Jackie Ensall made a good start against the opposition’s second pair, easily winning the first set 6-1.

However, nerves then got the better of them and they lost the second set and also the deciding tie break!

Meanwhile, on the adjacent court, regular partners Vici Topping and Kate Truman had a monumental battle with Kingsteignton”s stronger first pair, just losing out 4-6 in the first rubber, but digging deep and refusing to concede the second, which they won 7-5.

The deciding tie break was equally tense, with Kingsteignton eventually triumphing 10-8. The Sidmouth ladies now had two of the four points they required and went in search of the other two points.

Maynard and Ensall lost their second match in straight sets, but not without putting up a fight. Topping and Truman on the other hand took control of their second match from the outset with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 win. Overall, the result was a 6-4 win to Kingsteignton, but the jubilant Sidmouth ladies, including Molly Wiltshire, had just done enough to bag their promotion place!

Both Sidford and Sidmouth B will line up in Division Two when a new Winter campaign begins later in the year.

Before that both clubs will compete in the summer season.