Marilyn Barlow and Graham Baker led Sidford Tennis Club’s Mixed A team to a 7-2 victory in their opening match of the season away at Seaton in Division 2 of the East Devon Tennis League.

they were well supported by Emma Fidge with Paul Carter who picked up a win while narrowly losing their second match in a championship tie break. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t maintain their early season form going down 6-3 away to Ottery St Mary, all Sidford’s points coming from Jane Chalk and Paul Carter. This proved to be a minor blip as they returned to winning ways with an excellent 7-3 victory at home to Victoria Park, this time Fidge and Carter were unbeaten.

A second mixed team has been entered this year with all players new to league tennis. Their opening match was at Newton Poppleford who won the tie 7-3 with Dru Norris and Sue Billinghurst gaining all Sidford’s points. Unfortunately, their good fortune did not continue playing Exmouth home and they lost both their ties whilst David Maskery and Linda Morton played two long, hard-fought matches, but lost both on championship tie breaks.

In Division 3 of the Exeter and District Tennis League the Sidford’s Men’s team opened their season with two defeats, 7-4 against Civil Service A and 7-3 against Newton St Cyres A before a change in fortune saw them record an impressive 8-0 victory against Bovey Tracey A; the pairings of Will Boyd with Chris Bird and Paul Carter with Graham Baker both recorded straight set wins against their opponents.

Sidford Ladies’ team were delighted to have stayed in Division One in the Exeter League after a variable season in 2011. So far this season they have played six, won one, drawn one and lost four. The standard is very high and they are competing against some of the best players in the county.

The longstanding partnership of Marilyn Barlow and Emma Fidge continues this season and they have won 11 points for the team so far. Their best match so far has been against Chagford when they both played consistently well to beat both pairs. The second pairing of Jane Chalk and Nicci Humphries is a new pairing and, as they are still getting used to playing together, they have had some ups and downs. Linda Morton has also played in the “A” team against Cranford where she put up a strong fight with Jane Chalk. The team are, this week, playing Torquay “A”, the Division One champions for the last several years and who have got maximum points in their first 6 games. Spectators have been advised to come early or they may miss the entire match as Sidford expect to be beaten quite easily! However it mustn’t be forgotten that they managed to pick up 3 points from Torquay “A” last year and will endeavour to try and do the same this year!

?Anyone interested in playing league tennis will be welcomed into both the ladies and men’s squads, for further information please contact Paul Carter on 01395 567296 or 07805 453337 or visit the clubs website www.sidfordtennis.co.uk.

?The club are holding one of their popular ‘tea and tennis’ afternoons on Sunday, July 29. All are welcome

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