On Sunday last, the Rabbits staged the 15th and final matches of their winter league. This last day is invariably a classic in the golfing calendar, and this year was no exception.

After enduring all manner of weather since last October, ranging from storm, tempest, snow and ice, the league table had not been settled before season's close. The winners and indeed the destination of the wooden spoon would only be decided on this last day.

And so the players, and a good smattering of spectators, were all on tenterhooks, on fire with excitement, for the last round. Fortunately, the day was calm and clear, the last vestiges of winter disappearing, a wonderful March day for the masters to display their skills.

First out were Philip Carpenter, joined this week by a much in-form Derek Bath as substitute, battling against Ray Bowen and Peter Cray. Philip and Derek had the edge on this day, winning on the 16th after a match of great steadiness and delicacy of touch on and around the greens.

Both pairs have finished in good positions in the table, but not quite good enough to be amongst the prizes. Indeed, Phil Carpenter and regular partner Stephen Price have managed to halve six of their matches over the winter, a very high tally. Both are infinitely kind people thinking of others before themselves. With their particular skills, all they lack to qualify for the European Tour is the killer touch, a little bit of ruthlessness, which one must admit is a rarity amongst the Rabbits of Tenby.

George Pegg and Stephen Watkins have had many tough games this year and none tougher than their match this week against George Spain and Peter Moss. There was never more than a whisker between the two sides and it was only on the very last putt on the very last green that Stephen and George finally cracked their redoubtable opponents.

Off third was one of the matches of the season. Dave Moran and the ultra promising Simon Evans were sitting in second place in the table just one point adrift from the leaders. Should they win and the leaders lose they would be champions (and out on the course rumours were rife that the leaders were in desperate trouble).

Their opponents today were Mike Anthony and John Stevenson, themselves in third place only one point behind Simon and Dave. Infinite possibilities as to who would be champions depended on this match.

The contest hit fever heat. No putts were given, no quarter allowed and as the match progressed Mike and John got their noses in front. Birdies were common place, a feast of golf. Mike and John held on in this inferno, leap-frogging above Dave and Simon, to second place; watching, waiting for progress in the last match out on the course where the leaders were confirmed to be struggling. Rarely could there be more tension than what was going on out there on the course.

Playing for mid-table respectability were Fred Adlam and Brian Dooley up against the two Philips, Watkins and Marsden. Fred and Brian combined well and the two Philips went down on the 16th.

Brian Dooley is only in his second season in the Rabbits and his improvement curve is almost vertical. One sees a fine future for him, his trophy shelf soon will be sagging.

For Philip Watkins this was his debut season, and what early ability he has shown. Definitely, a star of the future has been born. Readers will watch his progress with great interest. Already you will have seen the Watkins name in the press. A great golfing future is assured.

Peter Watkins, his brother, a winner of the trophy some 20 years ago, was fortunate to have the legendary Tom McLean as partner this week. Experience told in his match, with Peter and Tom just pipping Tom Prichard and John Murcott on the last. Tom and John have had an in and out season for one reason or another, but on their days they were devastating.

John Murcott, who emigrated from New Zealand, such is the magnetic attraction of Tenby Rabbits, has had a very promising debut season. Admittedly he has benefited from his partnership with Tom Pritchard, who has helped John in many ways, not least regarding tactics and tone. There they are before matches, doing press-ups, 200 at a time. John has a very promising future indeed. One to watch.

Brian Hartley has been in fine fettle recently, regularly putting in cards in the low 60s. John Davies is not far behind him on current form either, and only this can explain the surprise collapse of John Cook and Johnathon Broome on this last day. Apparently, the Hartley Davies combination were devastating; and it was with a measure of some pride that John Cook described the two valiant halves he and his partner had gathered during the round.

The seventh match out would decide which pair would take the wooden spoon. Dave Morgan and Gordon Glaves pitting skills against Ron Murphy and Steve Harries. Readers should not deride the battle for the spoon in the context of the Tenby Rabbits League. For with absolute confidence your correspondent confirms that those at the foot of this table would certainly be competing for the silverware in any other parallel league in this South West corner of Wales.

However, on this day, Ron Murphy and Steve Harries, mercifully cured of his agonising gout of the previous week, held firm and consigned Dave and Gordon to 16th place in the league. And so to have their names engraved on the beautiful hand-carved spoon, and to join others illustrious golfers whose names appear thereon.

Their performance was greeted with generous applause and as the best of good sports they accepted their fate with smiles and laughter.

Almost as if events had been pre-ordained by some mighty being, out last on the course were the league leaders, Colin Smith and Ian Thomas. They had to win to ensure the trophy and golfing immortality. But against them were Glyn Price, the Rabbits deputy leader, and John Murphy.

The match was a tantalising prospect, for though Glyn and John are in the lower half of the league, they are, on their day, unbeatable. They remind your correspondent of the little girl with a curl. You remember it as well as your correspondent. "When she is good, she is very, very good. When she is bad, she is horrid." That sums up John and Glyn's game.

For the first three holes they were par, birdie, par. Three up.

The news filtered out over the course. Sky sent a helicopter. The Internet was overwhelmed with surfers switching on. Sunday schools abandoned their lessons. The rail network cancelled all services. A shock was on the cards.

On the long treacherous fourth, however, Colin and Ian hit back with a resounding birdie three. Gradually their game came together, and dropping no further shots against par, surged on to a close, tension ridden victory on the 16th. John and Glyn had stretched them with an outstanding challenge, enabling the league to end on crescendo.

In the clubhouse, Colin and Ian were given a deserved ovation, so loud the roof lifted. Acclamation, joy, and respect to two worthy champions were the themes. They deserve their places in the Hall of Fame.

In two weeks time there will be the Duffy Cup followed by the annual presentation dinner.

There will be wining, dining, speeches and glamour. The ladies will cheer on the heroes. The club president will speak and accord due accolades.

And at the day's finale, all the Rabbits captain could do was give a lecture on snakes. He was pathetic.

Results were: P. Carpenter and D. Bath bt R. Bowen and P. Cray 4 and 2; G. Pegg and S. Watkins bt P. Moss and G. Spain 1 up; M. Anthony and J. Stevenson bt D. Moran and S. Evans 4 and 3; F. Adlam and B. Dooley bt P. Marsden and Ph. Watkins 4 and 2; P. Watkins and T. McLean bt T. Prichard and J. Murcott 2 up; B. Hartley and J. Davies bt J. Cook and J. Broome 7 and 6; R. F. Murphy and S. Harries bt D. Morgan and G. Glaves 4 and 2; C. Smith and I. Thomas bt G. J. Price and J. S. Murphy 3 and 2.