Sidmouth Golf Club fought back brilliantly to overturn a first leg deficit and secure a superb victory over Dartmouth.
The Sidmouth Emerton Court team travelled to Dartmouth in the first leg, encountering heavy rain and broken branches en-route, expecting it to be called off.
Two miles from their destination, the clouds broke and the sun, if not shining brightly, certainly cheering everyone up by its appearance.
Captain John Barnard sent Bernard Ireson and Bob Johnson out first, but despite battling well, they couldn't beat the locals and went down 3 and 2.
Trevor Kerridge and playing partner Dave Hoare fought hard and only succumbed on the last, a similar result for John Barnard and Pat McCormack.
Hugh Dorliac playing with Graham Rogers, who had dented their cause by doing well in the previous day's stableford and getting a cut to his handicap, drew the first four holes by going ahead on the fifth with a two, courtesy of a members bounce.
They never went behind and, winning holes 12 through 15, secured the win. Colin Macklin and Brian Leach had a tougher time of it, but also secured another great away win on the last hole to give Sidmouth two valuable points to take to the second leg at home on Thursday.
Sidmouth played the second Emerton Court leg at home against Dartmouth, having lost down there 3 games to 2.
Fielding the same team against slightly altered Dartmouth pairings, Sidmouth's Trevor Kerridge and Dave Hoare led out in very damp and blustery conditions. They and the next three pairings won well with team captain and his partner Pat McCormack winning 4 and 3. Final pair Hugh Dorliac and Graham Rogers had a tougher time of it, going two down early on, bringing it back and then leading by one until Dartmouth struck on sixteen and seventeen to take a lead going down the last.
Fortunately, Sidmouth won the hole to gain a well-earned draw and the team finished overall winners over the two legs 6.5 to 3.5. Their next opponents will be Saunton with the first leg at home on June 1.