The penultimate match of the Tenby Rabbits Winter League took place last Sunday and guess what, it's still very close at the top. Our captain, Mark (the nails) Edwards and Mick (the ice) Gillet have the most complicated league for years, possibly in the history?
For a while at least on Sunday it was looking a little less so, as with all but one match complete, we had one pair on top with just one game to go, Chris Smith and Jerry Whitehouse, who saw off their opponents for the day, Mike Hale and Dorian Thomas, on the 13th.
Indeed, they were the second pair to do this, Simon Evans and Macky Harts despatching the now confirmed wooden spoonists, Mike Munro and Fred Adlam, here also.
But, as mentioned, there was one match still out to finish, that of Gerald Hewitt and John Murphy v Chris Davies and Steve Watkins. Now this was always going to be a tough match and indeed it was; it went all the way to the 18th, which was witnessed from all that waited 'til nearly dark to see the outcome. Worth it too, a great putt from 15-foot from Steve giving he and his partner the two points.
Now that's the end of the story, but not the full story. You see, we all knew in the clubhouse that the latest was three up to Gerald and John, and as it transpired they actually went five up with only six to play. As I have said before, though, Rabbits don't know when to give up, and it goes without saying, Chris and Steve won the last six holes - what a great result and probably worthy of the league in itself, possibly!
Now, as already mentioned, Simon Evans and Macky Harts had a convincing win and are poised like a pair of 40 well-worn mattress springs, old and tired, but you never know when they are going to spoil things.
In fairness, they had some help along the way on Sunday. Mick Munro was on the tee and thought he had a phantom ball, then realised he had the wrong glasses on and was just about to whack the skin off a button bit of fungi, so a 20-yard sprint took all his puff, which meant a bad start.
However, this game presented its chances to them - a 10 on the third hole would have been enough to win!
Who said this game has no luck in it, Mark Edwards, that's who. He watched his 250-yard second shot clatter into the pin on the 15th and drop within some two-foot. Not sure if his partner, our vice-captain, got the putt; could have been down to one of his opponents for the day, Paul Davies, doing the voodoo and wishing Mick's ball into the rough all day.
Shot of the day has to be from Dorian Thomas With a majestic swoop of his driver, this great left-handed golfer managed somehow to get the ball between his legs and watch it roll off the side of the tee.
Now, for those who don't know, his winter league partner, Mike Hale, never fails to put you in a playable position. OK, maybe not always on the fairway, but as he says, that will be alright over there, that will. Not really sure where his drive went, but no one has seen Dorian since. Off he went with his baccy and his Bovril, oh and his Bob the Builder towel, singing 'can he fix it' and something to do with Mike and a duck.
By the way, the bit about the towel was genuine, Dorian really did have one,
So here we go, one proper league match remaining, so many things could and probably will on Sunday, and with minds set for most on Wales and their opening Six Nations match, let's all get a move on and get finished as soon as we can, eh boys; and try (no pun intended) to stick around please, even more so if you are in line for some silverware. Mark and Mick would appreciate it.
Results: Mark Edwards and Mick Gillet beat Dafydd Evans and Paul Davies 3 and 2; Simon Evans and Mackie Harts beat Fred Adlam and Mike Munro 7 and 6; Jerry Whitehouse and Chris Smith beat Mike Hale and Dorian Thomas 7 and 6; Chris Davies and Steve Watkins beat Gerald Hewitt and John Murphy 1 up; John Hunt and Terry Davies had a walkover against Dave Morgan and Juan Cruz.
LEAGUE TABLE
P W H L Pts
C. Davies/S. Watkins 8 5 1 2 11
J. Whitehouse/C. Smith 8 5 1 2 11
S. Evans/M. Harts 8 4 2 2 10
M. Hale/D. Thomas 8 5 0 2 10
M. Edwards/M. Gillett 8 4 1 3 9
D. Evans/P. Davies 8 4 1 3 9
J. Hunt/T. Davies 8 4 1 3 9
G. Hewitt/J. Murphy 8 2 1 5 5
D. Morgan/J. Cruz 8 2 1 5 5
F. Adlam/M. Munro 8 0 1 7 1