In the ladies over 65s, Maureen Sowerby, team captain, reports that the ladies' first match was a tough home draw against the in form Cheshire ladies.
"Cheshire were very strong - their captain Alma didn't make any mistakes at all and was very consistant throught out the afternoon. My ladies just had to try and keep positive and just keep going - very hard for them as it was very apparent from early on that we were outclassed. Having said that our ladies did enjoy the tennis and were ready to come out fighting against our next opponents, Warwickshire".
The ladies travelled to Warwick for this match and found themselves playing at the Warwick Boat Club, a fantantastic venue for a tennis match as the Courts are alongside the bank of the River Avon with the Castle battlements as a backdrop.
The result was a 2-2 draw but Warwickshire took the match on sets, 5 to 4, although the game score was 38 each. This was a very good effort by the team as it is always difficult to get out of a car after a 3-4 hour drive then step on the court to play. Both pairs lost their first rubbers 4 and 3 in very windy, difficult conditions. Warwickshire's 1st pair were very strong with their captain Sue Davies very steady. Sue substituted herself for the 2nd rubber which gave Devon's 2nd pair a chance. They took the first set 6-0 and then held on to take the 2nd set 7-5. Devon's first pair lost their 1st set to the Warwickshire 2nd pair (one lady spinning and slicing the ball which was very effective into the sideways wind), but again recovered to take the 2nd set 6-3. This was then followed by a very nail biting champtionship tie break which the Devon ladies won to even the match.
1st pair: Rachel Smith (Exeter) / Sue Williams (Barnstaple)
2nd pair: Janet Wilson (Exmouth) / Sue Doncaster(North Devon)