Due to holidays and other commitments, Tenby were struggling to make the six players required. Fortunately, Alan Yates returned from his jaunt abroad and was able to join the group just in time for tee-off.
There could be no excuses for anything but a good competition. The weather was superb and the course was in great shape, with fast greens and heavy rough.
David Llewellyn and Rod Clarke were the pair chosen to kickstart the match and they set off in good form, winning the first two holes. Tony Simpkin and Alun Wonfor were unperturbed and soon found the measure of the greens to rein in the home team pair to all-square after six holes. A number of halved holes followed as they battled it out for supremacy and both pairs found themselves all-square after 16. From off the green on the 17th, Dave chipped up and putted out for a three. The ever-reliable Tony was on the green and overshot his putt, only to miss on the way back as well.
One up and one to play, the Tenby pair were confident. However, it took a 10-foot putt from Dave to save a half on the 18th. Both Tenby players executed their game well in what proved to be a very close match.
One to Tenby. Could John Hall and Des Stone equal that performance and seal the match? The signs were favourable as John won the first and Des won the third to give them a two-hole lead. Roland Lloyd and Graham Walker gradually got used to the greens and won the fourth and fifth. Six of the next 10 holes were halved as John held the Cardigan pair at bay. While John won the 15th, using his last shot to good advantage, Des made a rare contribution to win the 16th.
Unlike the first pair, Des and John lost the 17th and were all-square on the 18th. John duffed his second and put his third out of bounds. Roland and Des failed to capitalise on good drives and Graham, who played well all day, threaded his ball in between them to claim the hole and the match.
Everything now hinged on the last pair, that of Brian Morgan and Alan Yates. Fresh from his holiday, Alan took a while to warm up and the pair found themselves one down after three holes. Brian improved his performance from previous matches and came into his own by winning the eighth and ninth with pars to establish a four-hole lead. Keith Lewis and Mike Amphlet still thought they had a chance, but they reckoned without the belated contribution from Alan, who stepped up to the plate and halved the 10th and 11th holes.
This gave the Tenby pair a good advantage which they managed to convert into a win on the 14th. Tenby were able to breathe a sigh of relief. They now look forward to the draw for the next round.
Results: D. Llewellyn and R. Clarke beat T. Simpkin and A. Wonfor 1 up; D. Stone and J. Hall lost to R. Lloyd and G. Walker 1 down; B. Morgan and A. Yates beat K. Lewis and M. Amphlett 5 and 4.