Sidmouth Squash concluded their league season with a narrow 3–2 victory at Sidmouth Leisure Centre over promoted side Kingsbridge.

Unable to field a full team of five, Kingsbridge conceded the fifth rubber so were up against it in the race to win three games.

Their plight was made harder for them when Paul Clare defeated fellow fourth string Ben Rogers in straight games.

After a tight opening game, which Clare won on the tie-break, it was all one way traffic as Clare went from strength to strength to record a 16-14, 15-11, 15-6 win.

Kingsbridge responded by taking the next two rubbers to level.

Alick Russell narrowly lost out in an enthralling encounter with Keiran Squire. Both players had a very similar game leading to many lengthy rallies, unfortunately for Russell, Squire won the majority of key points to prevail the victor 15-6, 11-15, 15-10, 11-15, 15-11.

Chris Marriott could not repeat his efforts at Kingsbridge against the same opponent, John Stevens, and lost out in four games 10-15, 15-12, 11-15, 7-15.

The result hinged on the top string match between home player Chris Woodruff and visiting number-one Luke Danby.

In a cracking rubber full of quality squash between the best two players in the league it was Danby’s attitude, and Woodruff’s superior play, that eventually shone through. The final score was 15-12, 13-15, 15-10, 15-12 result a fair reflection on the balance of play.