The Tenby Rabbits assembled for the 10th round of their Winter League matches with no great enthusiasm.

The Sunday weather forecast was unkind with light rain developing, pushed by a south-westerly gale. Winds could reach 90 miles per hour at peak. Your correspondent hoped that at least one of the heroes would unfurl an umbrella out there on the course; be caught by one of those gusts and be launched into space like Mary Poppins. Nobody tried, which is a shame for enthusiastic readers and fans.

Clive Law and Jonathon Broome were first away, playing George Spain and Peter Moss, and by the seventh hole were leading one up. This was a tremendous performance, particularly by Peter Moss whose spectacles made it quite impossible for him to see ahead more than two feet and had to be pointed in the direction of the green each time it was his turn to play.

His play is well grooved, however, and he and George Spain were holding the younger pair, poised for a charge, when the sky collapsed. Enough was enough for them. Heartbroken they conceded defeat and were back in the clubhouse bar in time for opening.

Mike Anthony and John Stevenson have their eyes on the silverware at season's end and are currently on top of their game. When the draw for partners took place last October members swooned, for here was a pairing selected by the gods. Both have won many majors in their time, so many in fact that John Stevenson could not quite remember how many. Mike Anthony thought his tally was a dozen.

Their opponents this week Philip Watkins and Philip Marsden are both big talkers. Like to boast about sagging trophy shelves, holes-in-one, that sort of thing. Even say they are on first name terms with Tiger Woods. Regrettably they sank into oblivion, subsiding on the 14th. They are in free fall in the league having been joint leaders before Christmas. Mike and John are simply unstoppable. The current league leaders will never relax with these two waiting to pounce.

Third away was league leader Simon Evans, without his solid dependable regular partner Dave Moran. Pundits thought Simon would slip up this week denuded as he was.

Well, into the breach came Stephen Cole, one who enjoys heavy conditions and can play a bit too. Against this formidable twosome were the resurgent Ronald Murphy and Stephen Harries who fought valiantly but in vein. They took the thoroughbreds to the 16th when they finally succumbed. Theirs was a courageous performance, but still Simon Evans and Dave Moran top the table by one slender point.

Brian Hartley and John Davies resumed their winning ways this week after surprise consecutive defeats earlier this month. Their victims were George Pegg and Stephen Watkins who put up a good fight, and the victors return very much in the hunt for glory at season's end.

Peter Watkins, Mike Munro, Eugene Boyd and Stephen Price bowed to the elements on the fourth. By this time the waves were smashing into the dunes and threatening to engulf them. Eugene Boyd was making his seasonal debut as substitute for Phil Carpenter. It was good to see this stylist back in the fold, but Eugene himself thought otherwise. This match was settled amicably as an agreed half.

Fred Adlam and Brian Dooley, an emerging talent, were soon into their stride against Mike Fox and Gordon Glaves. In last week's press report comment was made about Brian Dooley's long iron game and how he is now in the professional class with that. This week it was his putting described by his partner as deadly. Your correspondent now comments that when he gets his driving more consistent, his fairway wood shots in the air, his chipping and pitching in tune, and his bunker explosions a little more honed, Brian is going to be a very fine player!

Tom Pritchard woke at 6.30 am, opened one eye, saw the weather and said he was ill. There was no time to call for a substitute and partner John Murcott remained in the clubhouse dry and warm buying raffle tickets at the rate of two per hour and indulging in a game of bonhomie with the miserable wretches as they squelched in off the course. "What's wrong with you all?" he would say. "Bit of wet out there and you all collapse. Goodness, where I come from we would have done 36 holes on a day so mild." Everybody hoped that the All Blacks would soon descend into Division Two of the world official rugby championship, provided they are not already there.

And so it is that Glyn Price and John Murphy gathered two valuable points against one invalid and one Kiwi sheep farmer now sitting with a blanket over his knee. It lifts them from the bottom rung of the table and as they said, the start of their late season climb.

Still out on the course were Ray Bowen and Peter Cray doing battle with Colin Smith and Ian. Thomas. Colin and Ian are riding high in the league just one point from the top, awaiting their chance to pounce. The Rabbits massed at the clubhouse windows. This match was all square coming down the 18th, but at the death much depended on Ian putting a pitch dead from the tricky banks surrounding the last green. Ian practiced this key shot over and over again. Head down, follow through, the merest trace of a divot required. The watchers at the window were spellbound. But one of the skills in Rabbit golf is the practice swing or shot. One of the normalities is that execution is not as good as the rehearsal.

Well to the surprise of all Ian played his real shot to perfection. The hole was won and two good points savoured. Neither side deserved to lose this match and Ray Bowen and Peter Cray were applauded into the clubhouse for their courage. Peter sat there elegant as always. Ray Bowen had no socks. He always forgets something when the weather is bad.

There are five more matches to play and the league is wide open at top and bottom. Four pairs compete for glory at the top and four battle at the foot to avoid the Wooden Spoon.

Finally, in the battle of the Watkins family, where three of this breed compete, Philip Watkins is proving to be the best. Watch this space. Tensions are rising.

The results were: C. Law and J. Broome bt P. Moss and G. Spain 1 up; M. Anthony and J. Stevenson bt P. Marsden and Ph. Watkins 5 and 4; S. Cole and S. Evans bt R. Murphy and S. Harries 3 and 2; B. Hartley and J. Davies bt G. Pegg and S. Watkins 4 and 2; C. Smith and I. Thomas bt R. Bowen and P. Cray 1 up; P. Watkins and M. Munro halved with E. Boyd and S. Price; G. Price and D. Bath bt T. Pritchard and J. Murcott match conceded; F. Adlam and B. Dooley bt M. Fox and G. Glaves 5 and 4.