Sidmouth ladies’ B team already had promotion to Division Five secured prior to their visit to their final game of the league campaign against David Lloyd C, writes Kate Truman.

Of the three matches they had played during the preceding two weeks they had comfortably seen off first Kingsteignton 6-2 and the David Lloyd D 8-0. They had also managed to secure four points in a close 6-4 reversal against table topping Teignmouth.

Nevertheless, the ladies wanted to finish on a high and went into their

final match against a competitive David Lloyd team in fighting spirit.

Marlene Maynard and Kate Truman have developed a strong partnership over the

course of the season and were delighted to win both of their games, taking

the first rubber 7-6, 6-4 and the second 5-7, 6-4, 10-5, despite being 1-4 down

in the second set and having to finish out the match on an unfamiliar indoor

surface due to the arrival of a violent thunderstorm!

Vici Topping and B team debutante Katie Wiltshire made up the second Sidmouth pairing and they too proved a formidable force.

The pair won their first rubber 6-3, 6-3 and managed to take the first set of the second rubber 7-5, but couldn’t quite convert the important points in the second set, which they lost 4-6, and were frustrated to lose the championship tie break 6-10. Still, it was a satisfying 7-3 win to the Sidmouth ladies, who are delighted with their

promotion and looking forward to the next season.