It had been touch and go whether the match should have been called off. The previous day's downpour at Neath had been pretty awesome, and water was still flowing across parts of the course, but thankfully, only one green was affected as far as playing it was concerned.

Our captain J. D. R. Williams, and his trusty partner, Roy Gundry, set out to do battle with vice-captain Alan Lloyd and sidekick Colin Lloyd. "The Lloyd brothers," exclaimed Roy, "they should have been renamed Butch and Sundance, I swear that Colin was wearing a mask"! Ah yes, Roy, but they played like gentlemen though. J. D. R. was almost speechless, but that was only because he had difficulty getting his words out. One down to Tenby, or as Alan said, "One up to Neath!"

Vince Shaw and I started well with opening pars on the first two holes, and things were looking good. But then a few lipped putts around holes that looked to be about four inches across, spelled doom, and it was obvious from then on, that we were being toyed with by Lindsey George and Mervin Morgan. Holes were being won with birdies and pars, with shots and putts you wouldn't believe, and only two were halved. The final coup de grace came on the 17th, when a rejuvenated Lindsey slotted a 15-yarder for a two and finished us off in style. You can judge that they enjoyed their win, by their big smiles in the attached photo.

Neath's Alan Phillips vehemently denied the suggestion that he and Norman Bater had lost by 10 and 8, to Owen Monaghan and Dai Rees. It was actually 9 and 7, but who would worry over one hole?

"I have never been in that situation before," said Norman. You had never played Owen and Dai before that's why! This pair was having a ball, and rumour has it that Owen was outdriving Dai with his three-wood. Perhaps it had something to do with Owen's 'Pudlian' accent!

"We played two gentlemen," said Malcolm Arlott and David Leeke, as they lost to Mike Bradley and Ken Evans. Mike unfortunately had to leave the course on the back nine, but the damage had already been done, as the Neath pair only dropped one shot over the first 10 holes!

"We had to get holes in one on the 17th to keep the game alive," said Malcolm. But thankfully, Mike had recovered sufficiently to drink to success after the game.

The only half of the day came when Newman Vincent partnered David Morgan against Peter Yorke and Bryn Thomas.

David's elastic stockings held up well for most of the game, and it was only the fact that if they hadn't gone into the trees on the 18th, they might have snatched a hard fought game, but the experience of doing a nature watch amongst the greenery upset Newman so much, that he missed the vital last putt for the game.

An even game for most of the way round, was the order for Derek Bath and Barry Frayne, as they tried to see off Neath's Ron Mathews and Lyn Soderstrom. This pair was suffering from vision impairments, according to Derek, and had to resort to feeling the club heads to ascertain which club to use! Tenby's not theirs!

"But an enjoyable afternoon with good company," said Derek and Barry. That's what it's all about, isn't it?

Being at the '4.5 to 1.5 down' stage at this point, didn't look too good for Tenby, and J. D. R. was looking a bit crest fallen as he waited for results to come in. But did he need to worry? Of course he didn't, not with the calibre of team players like Alan Keating and Ken Gouldsbrough out on the course.

This pair took the second biggest win of the day, against John Williams and John Solly, by 6 and 4. Mind you, John Williams was threatening to put in a complaint to the WPGA regarding Ken's driver.

"Definitely illegal," opined John, as he uttered the word "crushed." Handicaps would also have to be examined on the return to Tenby. But we have been saying that for ages John.

"A Roundhead and Cavalier game was played out," according to Roy Morgan, as he and Des Stone finished their game on the 16th, against Dave Mathews and John Jones.

"I played the dour Roundhead game of straight down the middle, whilst Des did the Cavalier bit, with his flashing irons and carefree attitude."

I can always be assured of an excellent comment when Roy's around. The quizzical looks that John and Dave gave were a picture in themselves, and a pity that the camera gave up at that point!

Despite friendly arguments about Royalty, Alan Hicks said that Geoff Aston was wonderful, and they gelled together well against Morris Fish and Bill Cantwell, for a 2 and 1 win. But Alan's game was very steady indeed, and he played his part with Geoff to perfection, until he went to pieces when Geoff started talking about Camilla! But anyone would do that surely? A very solid win for Tenby, that put us in a position that only another win would suffice. And...

It was up to Clifton again. This man will invariably pull the cat from the fire, the plum from the pudding, you name it and he will do it, and with the added bonus of the excellent John Charnock in tandem, a 5 and 3 win over Alan Maddick and Vic James, set the seal on a day to remember. What one didn't do the other did, in a very good team game. But there was a blip, as Clifton said he only had two birdies this week! Only two! What's the matter Clifton, are you coming down with something?

After a fine match meal, courtesy of the Neath stewards and staff, the Neath vice-captain Alan Lloyd, welcomed J. D. R. Williams and his Tenby team, and remarked upon some of the surprising results - obviously a reference to his Neath team. And his remarks on the length of the rough, didn't seem to worry Tenby, as we have our own cross to bear! But lots of laughter in the club helps to make these days a pleasure.

J. D. R.Williams replied by thanking Alan for the hospitality, and said that we always enjoyed coming to Neath. He also sent Tenby's regards to captain Roy Thomas, who was having a spell in hospital, and wished him a speedy recovery.

The fact that Tenby had been 'stuffed' the previous week by Ashburnham, the win at Neath by 5.5 to 4.5 was a highlight, so the home and away wins were good results for the year.

Results (Neath names first): A. Lloyd and C. Lloyd bt J. D. R. Williams and R.Gundry 4 and 3; L. George and M. Morgan bt J. Hancock and V. Shaw 2 up; A. Phillips and N. Bater lost to O. Monaghan and D. Rees 9 and 7; K. Evans and M. Bradley bt M. Arlott and D. Leeke 3 and 1; P. Yorke and B. Thomas halved with N. Vincent and D. Morgan; R. Mathews and L. Soderstrom bt D. Bath and B. Frayne 2 and 1; J. Solly and J. Williams lost to A. Keating and K. Gouldsbrough 6 and 4; D. Mathews and J. Jones lost to R. Morgan and D. Stone 3 and 2; M. Fish and B. Cantwell lost to A. Hicks and G. Aston 2 and 1; A. Maddick and V. James lost to J. Charnock and C. John 5 and 3.

J.B.H.