Sidmouth only managed to field the minimum four players for their match with Kingston Maurward, played in the delightfully leafy gardens of Kingston Maurward House, near Dorchester, writes David Butler.

Leading 5-4 at the luncheon interval, Sidmouth slid behind the home team in the afternoon to eventually lose ten-and-a-hald to seven-and-a-half.

A real gleam in the gloom was provided by Stephen Pearson, playing for the team for the first time.

Of his four singles games, Stephen won three and drew the remaining one.

In his two doubles, playing with Michael Hide, he won one game and drew the other.

That all meant that of the six matches Stephen was involved in he lost none!