It proved to be another good week on the tennis court for Sidmouth tennis player, writes Kate Truman.

The Ladies’ A team travelled to Chagford where they landed an excellent 7-4 success thanks to the collective efforts of Mary Dean and Lesley Cranston and Viv and Hilary Bess.

Dean and Cranston won both of their matches on a deciding championship tie-break while the Bess sisters won one rubber in straight sets and lost one in the championship tie-break. It was an enjoyable but exhausting night, with play finishing at about 9.45pm, luckily just before dusk, as Chagford have no floodlights!

The ladies also beat Sampford Peverell away. Usual B team player, Vici Topping, stepped in to play with Lesley Cranston to good effect, with the pair winning both of their rubbers with ease. Di Kendall-Tory and Viv Bess also beat the Mid Devon teams second pairing but, after a long sit out, eventually lost to the first pairing in a very close 8-10 championship tie break. Overall though, it was a good 6-2 win against a nice team, finishing off with pasties and chips at the local pub!

The Ladies B team also enjoyed another good win on Monday, this time at home to Tiverton. The ladies went into the match with the visitors sitting better placed in the league table, making this an important match.

Having come to the game of tennis at a relatively late stage in their lives, Marlene Maynard and Jackie Ensall demonstrated just how much they have improved their game over the last couple of years, playing with unerring consistency and determination to win both of their rubbers.

Kate Truman and Vici Topping also started the evening well with a straightforward win against Tiverton’s second pair but, after a 20 minute sit out, got off to a slower start against the stronger first pairing and lost the first set 3-6. The pair put up a valiant battle in the second set, coming back from 3-5 down to draw even at 5-5, but with endless long rallies and fatigue kicking in, succumbed to a 5-7 loss in the second set. Nevertheless, the ladies were very pleased to have secured a 6-2 win in this important match.

Finally, the Men’s B team played away at Kingsteignton. Making up the team were Bob Hefill and Jonny Surtees together with David Thornley and Nigel Hillier.

It proved to be a frustrating evening for the men who had their chances, but failed to capitalise with both pairings relinquishing sets in which they were well ahead and both also losing championship tie-breaks.

Consequently, what might have been a win for Sidmouth, resulted in a 6-3 loss and a resolve to focus on areas for improvement in their match play. It was, however, a friendly, young Kingsteignton team and, as always, a very pleasant supper at the adjacent pub.