Doug Goodall was captain for the day when he took the seniors to Crediton in appalling weather conditions, and most were hoping for an hour or two in the clubhouse before returning to Sidmouth, writes Terry Carter.

However, the rain eased and he eventually led the way, partnered by Ian Brown, giving three and six shots respectively to the home pair. A good performance including two twos gave them an early lead, and, despite a 25 foot putt by Crediton’s Phil Ollis on the 16th to bring the deficit back to one, a win on the next gave Goodall and Brown a 2 and 1 first point for Sidmouth. Ray Gunston and John Hicks are both noted for consistency, and it was a surprise when they lost 4 and 2 to level the match. Peter Emery and Brian Skittrall were next, and receiving shots. Emery’s silky tone and clear diction can be very persuasive, but he had no success in trying to convince us that a 6 and 5 defeat is a close run thing rather than the heaviest defeat of the day worthy of the honour of collecting the fees after dinner.

My partner for the first time ever was Charles Oram, who shook me as he set off back to the clubhouse just before we teed off saying he had forgotten to pick up his sun cream. The rain was in full flow at the time, but by the sixth hole we were playing in tropical conditions and he was my hero. He was also full value for his 28 handicap so I didn’t mind giving two and nine shots to the opponents. We won the first two, and stayed in front until settling for a half on the last. Colin Mitchell and Brian Cole were both receiving five shots from Crediton’s Tom Berry, and in a close game throughout, also settled for a shared point to leave Charles Brown and Glynn Hewitt with the power to decide on a draw or narrow defeat for Sidmouth. Yet another close game was halved to give Crediton a narrow win, good preparation for the return match in September.

Result: Crediton 3� Sidmouth 2 �

?The start of the Sidmouth home match against Exeter was delayed due to several Exeter seniors turning up at Exeter on auto pilot instead of Sidmouth, but eventually John Bainbridge and Charles Warren led off, generously receiving shots from Exeter’s David Jarrett and John Edgeworth. Despite losing the first two holes, the game was level by the sixth and still close by the turn thanks to Charles Warren, but the captain pulled himself together to win 11,12 and 13. Warren won the 16th for a 3 and 2 victory and first point.

This was followed by four defeats in succession, with Ray Gunston and Vernon Ruffle copying their leader by losing the first and second. They recovered to level at the turn, but fell away to lose 2 and 1. Charles Brown and Bob Winstone could have stopped the rot, as not only did they have home advantage but also each received nine shots from Exeter’s David Brown. This game remained close until the 15th, but they lost concentration as they came within sight of the inviting clubhouse, and lost 3 and 2.

Colin Mitchell and Paul Blay were receiving 5 and 12 shots respectively from Exeter’s Adrian Hansell, but after going five down at the turn a 6 and 5 defeat at least indicated a mild recovery over the next few holes.

Bob Cook and Rob Owen were only one down at the turn, but they lost 4 and 3 to put the result beyond rescue. In the last game Nigel Sharp and Mike Teague won the first three holes including 2 birdies, but finally settled for a half, although by then the Exeter captain couldn’t care less.

Result: Sidmouth 1� Exeter 4� .