SIDMOUTH have been handed a bye all the way to the semi-finals of this season's McKinley White Twenty20 Cup competition.

Entries are down on 2011 as a number of lower-division clubs have decided to stay away, with Woodbury and Exeter Civil Service among them.

Premier Division clubs are excused from playing in the first round and kept apart in the quarter-finals by seeding.

Holders Exmouth – they thumped Sidmouth by nine wickets in last season's final – will face the winners of the first-round tie between Topsham and Countess Wear.

Budleigh Salterton are away to either Clyst St George or Shobrooke Park.

There will be a derby at The Chronicles where Alphington are set to entertain Exeter.

The semi-finals and final will take place at Exeter's County Ground on July 8. The semi-final draw will be made after the second round has taken place.

First round: Clyst St George v Shobrooke Park, Topsham St James v Countess Wear. To be played by May 24

Second round: Clyst St George or Shobrooke Park v Budleigh, Topsham St James or Countess Wear v Exmouth, Alphington v Exeter. To be played by June 14

Semi-finals and final: at Exeter on July 8.