SIDMOUTH’S Emerton Court team played its first-round match away at Teign Valley this week.

This is the seniors (over-60s’) competition open to all affiliated Devon golf clubs. It is played on a home-and-away basis with the best aggregate score securing a place in the next round.

Sidmouth’s captain is Bob Webber and he had been scouring the early season form to determine his best side.

History suggests that if at least one point is won on the away leg, then that often is enough when the other leg is played at home where a clean sweep of wins is possible.

The weather report hadn’t been good, but stronger than expected winds made playing conditions very difficult.

The opening pair for Sidmouth were the usually reliable club president Trevor Kerridge and Chris Ashleigh, but they went two down at the turn and were well beaten.

Next up were Dave Cowler and Doug Goodall, another strong-looking partnership who suffered the same fate as Kerridge and Ashleigh.

When captain Webber, playing with Tony Stoyle, got to the turn all square, it looked as if Sidmouth’s fortunes had turned.

But the back nine got away from them and they shook hands on the 16th.

Three down was beginning to look serious but next along were Lester Willmington and Nick Bater. Two up at the turn they won five and three.The final pairing was Chris Timms and club vice-captain Ray Gunston. This was a battle royal. Two up with two to play, one of the Teign Valley players tried ricocheting his ball off a golf buggy on to the green but it didn’t quite work so another victory was sealed.