Sidmouth 4� East Devon 1�

The Sidmouth visit to Tiverton produced a 5-1 defeat, so John Bainbridge with Bob Winstone was looking for at least five points in the return match, writes Terry Carter.

Both were receiving shots from the unlucky David Holland, who with John Woods lost the first, but won the second and fifth to ease in front. Sidmouth’s pair then won four holes in succession to take a lead that was maintained to the finish for a 5 and 3 first point.

Next off, Ray Gunston and Charles Warren, well matched with their opponents were all square at the turn, but the excitement over the back nine was almost too much for Sid’s leisurely pair. The 12th produced a win for Gunston as well as improving on the ‘nearest the pin’ tee shot hit by John Bainbridge in the game in front. Unfortunately, he couldn‘t decide whether to keep the wine for Christmas or share it with his golf partner, lost concentration, and in the confusion our pair lost 13, halved 14 and lost 15 to go two down with three to play. However, they recovered with wins on the last two holes including what they claimed was a 40 foot putt on the last, for a hard-earned half.

Tiverton’s David Grieve, giving 11 shots to partner Leon Squire as they faced Sid pair Colin Mitchell and David Roberts in the next game, went two up early and the lead was held until the turn. Some seniors can occasionally hit the par three 11th green when there is a gale force westerly wind and the approach to the green has been manicured, but Mitchell did so without any such advantage. Roberts parred 15 and birdied 17, and the game was won two up.

Partnered by Colston Herbert, Terry Carter was giving the shots against Tiverton’s Bryan Stairs and Ken Nicholas. The best golf was played by Nicholas on the day and, although he misjudged a difficult putt to lose the first, he mastered the tough greens to give a hard game. All square at the turn Sids lost 11 and 12, but, still one hole down, pulled themselves together on 17 and 18 for victory with the last putt of the game.

Charles Oram was receiving 10 shots as he and Colin Paddon faced Jim Walton and Paul Sellers who was receiving seven. Oram won five of the six holes our pair won by the seventh, but Paddon admitted to a concentration deficit and played the wrong ball on the eighth. This prompted a strong recovery by the visitors, who were surprisingly in the lead by 14. However, Sid’s pair recovered in time to win 2 and 1, leaving the captain’s aggregate win over the home and away matches within his grasp as Vernon Ruffle and Brian Cole received shots in the last game out. However Cole confessed to having a really difficult day and left his partner struggling to hold the game together until the 15th, before losing the vital point 2 and 1.