Five substitutes were in action in the Divots Winter League last Sunday and, as forecast by your correspondent last week, that could well prove a decisive factor in the final shake-up for the silverware (and spoon) in a couple of weeks time.
Indeed, the points won and lost as a result of players being brought in 'off the bench' due to holidays and other commitments, look set to have a vital bearing on both the upper and lower echelons of the table.
Before last weekend, league leaders Adam Joseph and Mike Anthony seemed to be sitting pretty at the top, three points clear of their nearest rivals.
On Sunday, however, big-hitting Adam was without partner Mike and, with Steve Sharma as stand-in, slipped to a first defeat of the season. Could that prove costly? Only time will tell, in what promises to be an exciting showdown in a fortnight's time.
Their conquerors were young Richard Morton and the ever-reliable Ron Johns, who themselves are lying just off the pace, but have played an extra game and will have to sit out a bye on the final Sunday.
Richard admitted afterwards that their 3 and 2 success on the day was down to his partner, for while he himself was "rubbish," Ron, like Adam, played very steadily, and in the end Ron's putting proved the difference between the two sides.
Unfortunately, Adam and Steve were unavailable in the press tent (or was it bar) when your correspondent carried out post-match interviews
The defeat of the pace-setters has certainly opened things up in the battle for the trophies and has enabled the pairing of Tim Edwards and Laurence Lindsay to move quietly alongside them at the head of the table.
It was not too quiet on the first tee, however, when one of their opponents on Sunday, Gavin Field-Thomas, launched a monster drive down the first. Nothing unusual about that you might say, but on this occasion it was actually 'straight down the middle'. The cheer that followed would have done justice to a Welsh try against England at the Millennium Stadium.
Partner Richard Chapman was so shocked that, according to Gavin, he "didn't turn up until the 12th," although Richard begged to differ.
All joking aside, it was a "cracking game," and although Tim and Laurence could hardly get a word in, they had let their golf do the talking with a 2 and 1 victory, to go level on points at the top of the table.
And, as mentioned earlier, victories for both leading pairings next week would set up an exciting climax, as they meet head to head in what could be the title decider on the final league Sunday of the season.
The fight to win (or avoid) the wooden spoon is also hotting up, with any one of five or six pairs still in contention.
Current 'favourites' for the dubious honour are Gareth Rees and Ian Thomas, although Ian was absent this week - another of those golfers fortunate to be away in warmer climes!
In stepped Rob Hall to partner Gareth and the last time Rob did that with Ian, the pairing had enjoyed a rare victory.
No so on Sunday, in what was a vital basement battle against captain Kenny Breaker and his own substitute Martin Morris, in for Roger Schooling.
Kenny pointed out that it was a contest between 'the present and future' - Gareth being next year's Divots captain - and on this occasion it was the 'present' who came out on top with a hard-earned 2 and 1 win.
"It was a very good game, with lots of birdies," said a delighted Kenny - including one on the short 17th, where Martin fired his tee-shot to within three inches of the pin.
Even that would have been 'no gimme' if Nigel Ayers had been around. As it happened, he wasn't, as he was another basking in the Portuguese sunshine.
But, unfortunately for the Loz Phillips-Neil Dickinson combination, his son David was out on the course instead, as he too had answered the 'sub' call and, at a towering 6'5", more than filled his father's shoes!
Along with Michael Schooling, the young pair strode the links with total confidence, notching up pars and birdies as if they were going out of fashion. In fact, by the end of 18 holes they were only one over, having carded a gross 70.
Nevertheless, it was still a hard fought battle - so hard, that Loz was even seen to shed blood following a visit to the gorse bushes on the fourth!
The gruesome sight of the claret gushing from his finger was certainly not for the squeamish, but it did nothing to put his opponents off as they remained a constant 'thorn in the side' - if not in Loz's hand!
Indeed, despite a valiant fightback and a couple of birdies of their own, Loz and Neil finally succumbed 3 and 2 on the 16th, leaving themselves firmly entrenched in the dogfight at the foot of the table.
With two matches remaining, the spoon is still well and truly up for grabs! Watch this space.
Only other encounter on Sunday - in fact it was first out - was that featuring Niclas Thomas and Martin Durham against Mark Duckett and substitute Nick Johnson, standing-in for the absent Micky Barrett.
"Nobody played particularly well," admitted Nic afterwards. Even so, he and his partner still found themselves looking likely winners as they went two up with two to play, before a fine birdie-par finish was enough to earn a half for Mark and Nick.
Results: Nick Johnson and Mark Duckett halved with Niclas Thomas and Martin Durham; Kenny Breaker and Martin Morris bt Gareth Rees and Rob Hall 2 and 1; Tim Edwards and Laurence Lindsay bt Richard Chapman and Gavin Field-Thomas 2 and 1; Richard Morton and Ron Johns bt Adam Joseph and Steve Sharma 3 and 2; Michael Schooling and David Ayers bt Loz Phillips and Neil Dickinson 3 and 2.
Old partners win Chapman foursomes medal
Last Saturday's competition at Tenby Golf Club was a Chapman Foursomes Medal. Chapman's is popular with Tenby's golfers and is the format for the Divots and Rabbits winter leagues. Both players tee-off, then play their partner's second shot, finally choosing the best placed ball to finish off each hole. Scoring should be low as teams have two opportunities to get on the green or near the hole in two shots.
With the start of the club's knockout competitions only a few months away, many players were forming new partnerships, or reviving old acquaintances, in an endeavour to discover a winning combination.
This time, however, it was the tried and tested team of Matthew Evans and Barrie Frayne, finding a welcome return to form, who claimed the competition honours.
Playing off a combined handicap of 13, they shot a nett 64, five shots below the winter white course par. Matthew and Barrie share the first prize of a voucher for £60.
Gary Willars and Ralph Johns were the runners-up, sharing a voucher for £50. Gary and Ralph, playing off a combined handicap of 9.5, shot an excellent gross 74 to give themselves a nett 64.5, just half a point away from the winners.
Third spot, with a nett 65.5, went to Bob Parsons and Russell Clarke. Playing off a handicap of 11.5, Bob and Russell share a voucher for £40.
Martin Morris and Gary McKeown were a further shot behind in fourth place and share £30.
Two of the clubs senior players, Newman Vincent and Clifton John, won the last of the prize money in the main event, a voucher for £20, with their nett 67.
For February, the weather was once again kind to the players, with the rain holding off until late in the afternoon, when most had completed their rounds. A stiff south-westerly wind, however, made the opening holes play long, but certainly helped reduce the yardage on the return journey towards the clubhouse
This was particularly noticeable on the 9th and 12th par-three holes, helping a number of players score a 'two'. Altogether, 16 pairs shared the twos kitty, each pair receiving a voucher for £5.
The most notable twos, however, were scored on the 10th, a 422-yard par-four hole! The partnerships of Richard Ormond and Simon Toy and Bill Davies and Rees Davies both eagled the long hole by sinking their 130-yard approach shots.
Viv John and Graham Shand did the double by scoring two 2s. A full list of twos winners is shown below:
Gary Willars and Ralph Johns; Nick Rogers and Richard Chapman; Newman Vincent and Clifton John; Richard Davies and Simon Rowell; John Gillespie and Dave Merritt; Mike Fox and John Cook; Paul Hoyland and Peter Rossi; Bill Davies and Rees Davies; John Hancock and Jim Taylor; Sonny Perkins and Phillip Booth; Mark Heywood and Curtis Cramb; Viv John and Grahame Shand (2); Richard Ormond and Simon Toy; David Blackmore and Richard Smith; Jeff Haley and Huw Roberts; Chan Thomas and Tony Key.
This week's names out of the 'bag' were the teams of Phillip Watkins and Peter Watkins; Steve Watkins and R. Gwyther; and Joe Taylor and David Hurle. Each team shares £27.30.
Once again no mercy from the match and handicap committee who disqualified four teams for failing to record their handicaps on their card correctly. No matter how well you play on the course, if you don't complete the formalities correctly you won't win!
The next club competition is the February Monthly Medal scheduled to be played on Saturday, February 22. The entry sheet is now on the noticeboard.
B.F.
Moran and French secure Rabbits League
The Tenby Rabbits have now played the next but last matches for the Winter League. However, the excitement is not over for the third and fourth places.
First place has been secured by Dave Moran and Budd French who are now four points clear of their nearest rivals, Richard Caley and John Stevenson - themselves clear by three points in second place.
Two points separate the next six pairings who will be fighting for third and fourth place on Sunday. Heading the challenge for these trophies are Derrick Farley and Steve Harries, whose opponents this week are the in-form George Pegg and Phillip Watkins.
On the same points are Peter Watkins and David Morgan, who don't have an easy match against Stephen Price and John Murphy (as Brian Hartley and John Cook can vouch).
Three teams follow closely behind on 13 points, and anything can happen. Should there be a tie for third or fourth places, then these pairings will need to play extra holes on a sudden death basis after the last pair come in.
Not reported in last week's column - sorry chaps - was John (Spectacles) Murphy, partnered by sub David Lemon. Their match caused great concern, playing against the top pairing. At a crucial moment while hovering over a putt, John's spectacles broke in half. The resident optician, John Stevenson, was at hand, tools at the ready, but alas, the specs were beyond repair. David was seen shaking his head and muttering "O what might have been."
This week, John turned up with new spectacles and what a transformation. His partner, David Lemon, was amazed at John's exceptional chipping and putting, which enabled them to secure a win on the 18th.
A final comment. Candidates for the wooden spoon Tom Pritchard adnd Brian Dooley were up against super sub Meurig Jones and John Hunt. Tom and Brian had to settle for a half on the 17th with birdies recorded by both pairs, leaving the match level on the 18th tee. Sadly their record of no match wins is still intact!
This Sunday sees the final matches (tickets only as large crowds are expected).
Rabbits have been instructed to be on their best behaviour.
The results were as follows: Ron Murphy and D. Thomas (sub) bt P. Moss and Tom McTavish; R. Caley and J. Stevenson halved with R. Gwyther (sub) and P. Davies; D. Moran and B. French bt E. Boyd and M. Munro; D. Lemon and John Murphy bt B. Hartley and J. Cook (sub); D. Morgan and P. Watkins bt G. Pegg and Phil Watkins; D. Farley and S. Harries bt G. Price and Steven Watkins; M. Jones (sub) and J. Hunt bt T. Pritchard and B. Dooley.