Sidmouth Tennis Club’s teams have seen their respective league campaigns reach the halfway stage, writes Kate Truman.

The men’s A team is enjoying playing a high level of tennis in Division Five. Captain, Martin Truman, has so far spread the matches between 14 players, trying out some new pairings as well as fielding established partnerships.

All matches have been close with just a few points between winning and losing teams so the Sidmouth men remain in contention for a top of the table position at the end of the season.

The men’s B Team is enjoying their best season since the team joined the league three years ago. The summer got off to a very good start when they won one of their early matches against David Lloyd B, 8-0.

David Lloyd are now second in Division Eight whilst the Sidmouth team has won all its matches so far, and are clear at the top of the table!

Pairings of Bob Heffill (captain) and Greg Pepper, and juniors Jonny Surtees and Harry Ensall, have proved successful.

Bob and Greg have only lost four of the 30 or so sets they have contested in matches so far!

The juniors are playing very competitively: when the going gets tough, they really get going!

The B team have more away matches in the second half of the season so will not have a home advantage, however, if the standard set so far continues, then promotion looks quite likely.

The ladies A team has played fewer matches than the other teams, being unlucky with the weather.

However, they were able to play their home fixture against Sampford Peverall last Monday, securing a 4-4 draw. Competing in what is a strong Division Two this season, every match is a long battle (two matches have seen play go on until 10pm) and getting some points from each encounter is a must.

The ladies are, at present, in the lower half of the table, but have played two fewer matches than all the other teams.

Meanwhile, the ladies B team, have noticed a marked improvement in the standard of play in Division Four, to which they were promoted last season.

Again, every match is a long closely-contested battle, but the ladies are enjoying the challenge and holding their own.

They enjoyed a good 8-1 win against Bovey Tracey last week and have managed to win four or five points from most of their matches so far which means they are currently placed second in their division with six matches to be played.

Last, and certainly not least, the mixed team have also had some good matches so far with two wins and a brace of defeats.

They won their recent match against Budleigh Salterton C 6-4, managing to come out top in some very close and tense championship tie breaks and are currently lying third in the Division Three table.