Sidmouth Badminton Club’s Men’s A travelled to Exmouth to face league leaders and title favourites Cranford A where, despite putting up a good fight they came out on the wrong end of a 7-2 score line, writes Graham Baker.

Next up was a home game against second placed Queens A, which turned out to be the usual feisty encounter with close matches. After almost three hours of play the Sidmouth team won 5-4, thanks to a superb unbeaten performance from County over-45s star Chris Bird with Jamie Samuel, backed up by the ever reliable pairing of John and Paul Carter, who won two of their three matches.

The team then came up against the youngsters of Exeter University. This time Chris Bird teamed up with John Carter to turn in another unbeaten performance to lead the team to a 5-4 victory. Sidmouth’s other two points came from team Captain Simon Heuson and Vernon Smeed.

Luke Oxley with Harry Williams have been the star pairing for the Men’s B team to remain unbeaten in the victories over Raleigh, league leaders St Leonard’s C and Clyst Vale, 6-3, 5-4 and 6-3 respectively. They were well supported by the new pairing of Rob Pering and Graham Baker, who won two of their three matches in the wins against Raleigh and St Leonard’s C. The wins leave the team in second place with an outside chance of clinching top spot at the end of the season.

The Ladies’ A team were looking to overturn their only defeat of the season when they travelled to Exeter to face Ringswell A but, despite some good performances, they again came out on the wrong side a 4-2 score line. They fared better in their next match when they thumped near neighbours Otter Vale A 6-0 to remain in third place in the league.

After drawing with Honiton B before Christmas the Ladies’ B team were looking to record a win in the return match but it was not to be, after a close battle they eventually went down to a 4-2 defeat. Unfortunately injury and unavailability meant they had to forfeit their next match as they were unable to raise a team.

The Mixed A team faced the two title favourites Cranford A and Queens A and went down to 8-1 and 7-2 defeats respectively. They won their next two matches, both away, against Exeter and Cranford B 5-4. The Mixed B team continue to top division 2A after 6-3 victories against St Leonard’s C and University A.

The wins were built on an unbeaten performance from Yvonne Hudson and Chris Bird.