Sidmouth Squash Club played their final game before the festive break when they entertained near neighbours Exmouth in the first round of the Devon Plate.

Sidmouth were always going to be hard pressed to win against a team who play their squash two divisions higher than them but put in a spirited effort to take the match to the final rubber before Exmouth ensured victory.

In the opening rubber Chris Woodruff lost out to Giles Colton – 14-16, 15-8, 12-15, 12-15, Woodruff suffering a niggling injury during the opening game which hampered his movement.

On the adjacent court fourth string Paul Symington left his late charge too late and suffered a four game defeat to last season’s Sidmouth third string Dave Maskill who had it all his own way in the early stages, but was pushed very close by the end in a 7-15, 11-15, 15-7, 12-15 result.

Sidmouth players Alick Russel and Nigel Desousa both won their respective rubbers with Carl Sowden and Colin Jones. Russel always holding the upper hand in a fast and furious 18-16, 15-12, 15-9, victory, whilst Desousa claimed a prized scalp coming from two games to one down to win 15-11, 11-15, 12-15, 15-12, 15-12.

The final and deciding rubber saw Sidmouth’s Chris Marriott lose out in four very close games with opponent Graham Chater. Had things been a little different the 11-15, 14-16, 17-15, 9-15 score line may well have gone the other way and Sidmouth would have pulled off a shock victory.

The result means Exmouth proceed in the Plate whilst Sidmouth join the other first round losers in the Devon Plate, Plate.

Thanks should go to Francis, Lynette and the staff at The Black Horse for their marvellous after match meals provided to date.