Sidmouth Golf Club maintained this season’s unbeaten record after three matches in the East Devon League when they played Padbrook Park at Fingle Glen on Saturday. In fact, their unbeaten run goes back to 2009 when Lewis Perry took over the team captaincy, writes John Rockey.

Whilst the match was played under clear blue skies, there was a strong breeze which made conditions on some of the holes quite difficult. However, most of the Sidmouth team managed to cope with the situation better than their opponents.

First off for Sidmouth were Jonathan Lee and David Bater, who won 2 and 1. This is Jonathan’s third East Devon League win of the season with his third different partner, and he must be wondering whether he should be changing his type of soap!

Next up was team captain Lewis Perry and Paddy Tallon, who had an easy 5 and 3 victory to notch up their seventh win in a row. Obviously, Lewis relishes Paddy’s easy-going style!

Things were going too well and, as is usual, thoughts of an easy team victory came to an abrupt halt when Stuart Coles and Michael Knight got a 6 and 5 drubbing to put the overall result back into the melting pot.

However, Luke Sheppard and Nathan Brace, both making their first appearance of the year, soothed Sidmouth’s worries by gaining a 2 and 1 win to ensure a team victory.

Last out were club vice-captain Paul Hitchcock and Trevor Kerridge, hoping to increase the winning margin. They looked set to do so when they were two up with three holes to play, but, in a remarkable turnaround, the Sidmouth pair lost the last three holes to go down by one hole and, incidentally, record their first defeat in seven matches.

Only time will tell whether this defeat will prove critical should total ‘matches won’ be taken into account to determine the winner of the league at the end of the season.

So, Sidmouth managed a slender win by three matches to two and go to the next encounter next month with their unbeaten record still intact.