Ilfracombe is, for the Sidmouth seniors, the furthest match destination in the calendar, some 60 miles from Sidmouth and I am pleased to report most of us made it there, apart from our 12th man who cheered us on from the Sidmouth clubhouse where he inadvertently went, thinking it was a home fixture – a ‘senior moment’, writes Chris Grubb.

Hugh Dorliac and David Roberts led off in glorious sunshine and soon took the lead, and between them never falling behind winning three-and-two.

Brian Cole and Terry Blackler found themselves up against an Ilfracombe pairing firing on all cylinders and who quickly went into an unassailable lead finishing with a win by the 12th hole – ouch! David Cowler and Bob Reynolds also had a tough match, but ran out two up winners.

Paul Blay and Ken Price played a great round and found themselves four up with 5holes to play, but sadly their Ilfracombe opponents then turned up the gas and won the next five holes to snatch victory by one. Late replacement Rob Owen for Chris Grubb, who was double booked in matches, and John Serle kept their match all square for half the match when local knowledge allowed the home pairing to forge ahead and win four-and-two. Finally John Eaton gamely played his match without his partner, who was still in Sidmouth, but was up against it all the way and lost his match. Ilfracombe won the match 4-2 with the Sidmouth leg to come.