Sidmouth Racketball team went into their third game of the season, at home to Exeter University students, looking to end their losing run but came up short against the current league leaders, writes Rob Cann.

Despite the average age difference between the teams of 170 years, the Sidmouth players put up a sterling effort against their younger counterparts losing 3-2 (9 pts –14 pts).

The evening go off to a poor start for the home team when both opening rubbers ended in defeat. Rob Bagwell going down to fellow fourth string Gordon Jump in four entertaining games, 5-11; 7-11; 11-7; 5-11, whilst third string Keith Spring went down by the same score 12-10; 8-11; 3-11; 4-11 to a very energetic John Howell.

Sidmouth got their first win on the board when fifth string Andrew Rugg-Gunn defeated Uni captain Harry Rudolf 11-5; 11-2; 11-8. Rugg-Gunn belied the 50-year age gap to dominate the rallies and run Rudolf ragged. Despite a late resurgence from the Uni No 5, in the third game Rugg-Gunn closed the door.

Sidmouth top string Nick Whittaker never really got going in his rubber with Uni no 1 Dave Breakey. With great speed and agility Breakey dominated the opening two games only for Whittaker to reply with his best racketball to secure the third. Unfortunately Whittaker could not continue his form into the fourth and went down 11-3; 11-5; 9-11; 11-5.