Sidmouth senior’s golf team went to Ilfracombe on final Friday of June to encounter a near gale-force wind and very determine opposition.

The Sidmouth team was led out by Bruce Harcourt with partner Tony Stoyle.

The Ilfracombe pair played well, but were kept back by some fine play in the conditions and they were only one up at the turn.

Two lost holes put the Sidmouth pair two down with two to play, and, despite winning the 17th, they lost the 18th after a magnificent drive by one of the Ilfracombe team into a fierce head win to be just over the green thereby losing the match by two.

The next pair out, Chris Grubb and Colin Paddon, played really well and almost overcame the wind and opponents, but also fell foul of 18th head wind and lost by one.

Third out, Terry Blackler and Charles Brown, did not master the windy course losing to an accomplished Ilfracombe team.

Brian Cole and David Roberts fought well, but could only manage to hold on up to the 16th where they finally lost three-and-two.

Graham Vincent and David Stone put in a magnificent round and at one stage were three up, but were pegged back to lose on the 18th and finished all square.

Brian LeMasurier and Glynn Hewitt had a good round, but like several of the players before fell victim to the 18th and lost by one.

The overall score ended up as five-and-a-half to one-and-a-half in favour of the home side. However, with four pairs losing out on the final hole, the score, under less windy conditions, might well have been very different.

The teams meet again, this time at Sidmouth, on July 27.