The current and potential new Devon League squash champions met in a league fixture at Marsh Road, as Newton Abbot Men's first team played host to Torquay, currently unbeaten at the top of the table.
The visitors started well as Kevin Appleby lost 3-1 to youngster Jack Barnes – losing the fourth 10/8 despite leading it 8/2 at one point.
Another Torquay youngster, Stuart Perrett, beat Newton's Nigel Bell in three and Torquay secured victory when player-coach Dave Palmer overcame Phil Borrett 3-0.
Top string Lewys Hurst gained three points for Newton Abbot as he showed his class in beating Matt Marshall 9/4 9/1 9/4, a match which had the packed gallery applauding from the first point to the last.
With the match decided, Lee Curtis battled gamely against Gavin Perrett, but the battle of the captains went to the visitor, giving Torquay a 4-1 victory (17 points to four).
At the same time as Torquay were seeing off the challenge from the first team, Newton Abbot's second string were playing host to division one leaders Paignton, who returned to Clennon Valley with a 20-point haul.
The visitors were only really tested in the fourth string tie as Steve Davey took Dave Hill to five, losing the decider 8/10.
Eighteen-year-old Jack Nicholls, making the most of his break from the forces, took the second game against Mike Kateb at five, and captain Dave Brown secured another point for the home side as he also lost in four to Mark Bowey in the battle of the top strings.
Tom Wilson and Nick Richards both lost 3-0, to Martin Glover and Mark Griffiths respectively.
There was some success as the third team recorded a welcome 3-2 victory over Exmouth two nights later.
Jack Nicholls was again called upon and won, along with Steve Morrall and Rob Muddeman. Richard Salmon lost in four and top string Rob Salmon was disappointed with his performance as he lost 3-0.
The fourth and fifth teams were both involved in close games, both of which went to the opposition 3-2.
Exeter Golf and Country Club 4 were the visitors for Newton 4 and drew first blood as fifth string Neale Cartlidge beat Barry Knight 3-2, but captain Ian Davies drew his side level with a 3-0 victory over Jerry Kent and third string Shaun Mutton had good reason to be cheerful as he notched up his first win of the season, beating Mark Mills 3-1.
This left the fourths needing just one win from the top two matches to secure victory. Steve Lewis, two, recovered from 0-2 down in his match with Robin Turl to take it to a decider but, after a couple of disputed calls late in the game, Lewis' concentration went and with it the ultimate point, the same way as many before it, in the tin to give the game to Turl.
Mark Hedge's top string game with Steve Dickson was almost the reverse as Hedge led 2-0 only for the visitor to peg him back at 2-2 and then continue by taking the fifth, giving Golf and Country the game 3-2 (15 points to 12).
The trip to Okehampton for the fifths almost resulted in the elusive first win of the season, but not quite.
Bottom strings James Green and Mike Gough both won but the rest of the squad were unable to find a win between themselves, Les Lachenicht and Andy Maker losing in four and Kevin Smart in three.