OKEHAMPTON Squash Club first team looked to have narrowly missed out on promotion after they fell 2-3 to defeat away to Sidmouth in the last match of the season.

Oke needed to win that game as well as rely on other results to go up so, despite a valiant effort in the second half of the season with a run of victories, it looks as though they will be still playing squash in the third division next season.

Dan Yeoman went down 3-1 at string 5, while Simon Ramsay won 3-0 and Phil Allin won his match 3-2. A 3-0 loss for Phil Kemsley in the string 2 match meant that Arnie Searle needed to win the string 1 match, but Arnie went down to a narrow defeat.

Overall, it was a good season for the first team, with several players winning the vast majority of their matches.

The second team finished their season with a well-earned and overdue victory against Dartington thirds.

Barrie Sharpe and Jack Barkwell got the team off to a flyer at strings 5 and 4 with both enjoying 3-0 victories. At string 3, Chris Elphick came against a strong opponent who ran out with a 3-0 win, while at string 2 Shane Vallance played a consistent game against his experienced opponent to win 3-0.

Shawn Jones at string 1 enjoyed another run of tight games but eventually lost 3-0. However, the team secured the victory by 3 matches to 2.

Although finishing at the bottom of their league the second team have enjoyed their season and have not earned the points their general play may have deserved. The team has benefited from the organisation and commitment provided by Dave Harwood.

Both teams look forward to the new season which starts after the summer.