The storms and the wet of the previous week had blown away and the Rabbits were fortunate to have the perfect golf weather for the sixth matches in their winter league.
With winter well advanced, however, pestilence and plague had decimated the first match and as it was the society vice-captain Glyn Price played an exhibition match with the up-and-coming Steven Watkins.
Nobody was able to witness this demonstration of perfect golf, as they described it, but from the players' reports, pars and birdies had been abundant. Each player described the other as an excellent golfer. Regrettably, none of the other golfers believed them, and they were left alone, up to their necks in administration.
Dave Morgan and Gordon Glaves showed early form in their match against Steven Price and Philip Carpenter, it was reported. Indeed, after four holes there was only one point between the two sides. But then Phil and Steven turned it on with a Blitzkrieg of golfing power to tie up the match on the 15th.
Ray Bowen and Peter Cray enjoyed a close win against Clive Law and Jonathon Broome, this match being settled on the 17th. Clive and Jonathon have not yet accumulated the league points their fine abilities would normally bring. However, on Sunday there were signs these sleeping giants have started to spark. Two exceptional birdies were recorded on the long par four holes, the fifth and 13th, a sign of things to come. None of their future league opponents will feel confident against this pair. A very rapid rise up the table is foreseen.
The next match out was a firecracker. The unbeaten pair Brian Hartley and John Davies up against the might of Peter Watkins with Wyn Hopkins playing as his substitute partner this week. Never was there more than two holes difference between the sides as the match ebbed and flowed, first to one side, then the other. All had played very well and Wyn Hopkins was reckoned to be a substitute supremo of the highest class.
Now Brian Hartley and John Davies are out on their own sitting high and dry at the top of the table. Two class golfers, "probably unassailable," say the pundits.
Colin Smith and Ian Thomas galloped into an early lead against the Philips Marsden and Watkins. After five holes they were four up, combining brute power with delicate accuracy around and on the greens. This match was almost over at an embarrassing stage; so early in fact, the victims called for sustenance on the sixth tee. The two great golfers were up to this challenge by producing their gilt hip flasks spilling with Southern Comfort and a vintage sloe gin laid down by Colin Smith six years ago. It was divine, and inspired the two Philips to a partial fight-back, though the end result was a comfortable win for the victuallers on the 16th.
The woes of Ron Murphy and Steve Harries continue. Though they smiled all the way round the course and showed many golden touches, they were no match on this day for Mike Anthony and John Stevenson who simply were on the top of their game. For Ron and Steve, their glory moment will come. They are too good for their current league position.
Fred Adlam was described as Divot material by his partner Brian Dooley last Sunday, but nobody knew whether this was really a compliment. Nevertheless, Fred and Brian combined with some sublime golf to take their match against Peter Moss and George Spain. On the other hand, Peter and George had their moments and it must be recorded they achieved a 75 per cent par success rate on the tricky and devilish short holes. And that takes some doing in winter conditions.
Last out were the unbeaten Dave Moran and Simon Evans in battle with Meurig Jones playing as substitute with our resident New Zealander, John Murcott. Here, too, was a tantalising demonstration of golfing skills from all four players with the tension at high staccato on the 15th, with the match all-square. But from then on, Dave and Simon pulled away to take the next three holes and triumph three and one.
The day concluded with a fashion show of new Rabbit stocks. The debonair Ian Thomas was the model and he tripped the catwalk as a sea-lion walking on its flippers. He was a true reincarnation of Twiggy, though perhaps a little heavier.
Ian lit up the day and as twilight crept in Brian Dooley's fashion boutique was doing a roaring trade.
The Rabbits will be very well attired in the year ahead.
The results were: G. Pegg and S. Watkins bt G. J. Price and J. S. Murphy walkover; P. Carpenter and S. Price bt D. Morgan and G. Glaves 4 and 3; R. Bowen and P. Cray bt C. Law and J. Broome 2 and 1; B. Hartley and J. Davies halved with P. Watkins and W. Hopkins; C. Smith and I. Thomas bt P. Marsden and Ph. Watkins 3 and 2; M. Anthony and J. Stevenson bt R. Murphy and S. Harries 6 and 5; F. Adlam and B. Dooley bt P. Moss and G. Spain 4 and 3; D. Moran and S. Evans bt M. Jones and J. Murcott 3 and 1.