As sporting contests go, it was one-sided.

Not even having a church minister plus an ex-Llanelli, Wales and British Lion rugby player in their ranks counted for much when a team representing the county council challenged some of Pembrokeshire's top boccia players to a match.

Based on boules, boccia was originally developed for people with cerebral palsy, but is now played by people of all abilities and disabilities.

For this showdown with the local authority in the sports hall of the spanking new leisure centre in Haverfordwest, the county's two boccia clubs - the Crymych Panthers and the Young Vipers - joined forces.

And their combined might proved decisive.

The council team, including the chairman, Clr. Anne Hughes, and led by Clr. Rev. Huw George and including three fellow cabinet members - one of them being the honourable member for The Havens, alias ex-rugby international Clr. Peter Morgan - slumped to a disappointing 27-13 loss.

It was even played out in front of a television crew, reporting on the growing popularity of boccia in Pembrokeshire. A paralympic sport, it will be included in the London Paralympics in 2012.

Not that defeat was unexpected.

The Panthers and the Vipers boasted some heavy hitters with plenty of experience in a game which continues to grow in popularity in Pembrokeshire.

None more so than 14-year-old Jacob Thomas, of Bethesda, who has trained with the Great Britain squad. A student at Ysgol y Preseli in Crymych, he has represented Wales on several occasions and last year was runner-up to the Welsh champion.

Despite the yawning gap in skill between the teams, Clr. George remained defiantly upbeat when he presented trophies to each of the winning team members.

For others in his side, the truth was harder to avoid.

"Worse than the Lions in South Africa," somebody observed afterwards. "And that was on the telly as well."

Members of the Young Vipers and Crymych Panthers are: James Pugh, Jacob Thomas, Sian Jones, Gemma Rees, Greg Mott, Amy Barrett, Rhiannon Griffiths, Donna Emery, Darren Briggs and Ben Couceiro.