Last Sunday the Rabbits played the next to last matches in their Winter League. The weather was dreadful. Cold and unceasing rain. It was a miracle the players ventured out at all, but with the final positions in the table still not resolved, it just happened to be desirable for matches to be played.

David Morgan and Gordon Glaves went off first in a potentially classic basement clash. Their opponents were Peter Moss and George Spain. Both pairs are candidates for the wooden spoon and it was amazing to observe the glee with which they went into battle. However, by the fifth their joy had turned to misery and as they are permitted, when the weather is intolerable, all four agreed to a half. Back to the clubhouse they squelched and who could blame them.

Glyn Price, the Rabbits vice-captain, was overjoyed to be paired once again with his regular partner John Murphy. John has missed quite a few games in this New Year and the weather did not make this a happy return. Up against them were Ron Murphy and Steve Harris. This match too had a great deal of importance so far as the destination of the Spoon is concerned. The play here was actually dominated by the agonising gout of Steve Harris, an affliction they say of those who enjoy the high life. His diet of caviar, port and cigars, enviable though this is, has taken its toll. And when John Murphy's expensive trolley disintegrated on the fifth, he and the other players were happy to agree a half.

With one match to go, the winners of the Spoon will be either Dave Morgan and Gordon Glaves, or Ron Murphy and Steve Harries, and these two pairs face each other next week. Neither pair will need to show shame, whoever takes the trophy. There are many illustrious names on that trophy. This next match promises to be one of the highlights of the season.

Peter Watkins and substitute this week Tom McLean rolled back the clock. Between them they have 50 years experience in the league. Their opponents were Fred Adlam and Brian Dooley, a pair of golfers who have enjoyed a recent winning streak.

Tom, of course, is from the Scottish Highlands and his talk this week was of the Scottish Ladies and their amazing gold medal in curling at the Winter Olympics. He was on a high, explaining to all how Scottish cool had produced that winning stone; and stunned all by likening it to his own golf game. It is said that when Peter Watkins putted, Tom McLean swept ahead of that ball.

With confidence and tactics like that, no wonder Fred and Brian could not hold them, sinking by 3 and 2 in wonderment and awe.

Brian Hartley and John Davies took their season's tally to 19 well crafted points. They are now fourth in the table and unassailable in that position. They are the only pair who know their final league status and will receive the prize for fourth spot at the forthcoming dinner. They have played fine attacking golf throughout the league and well deserve their forthcoming accolade. Their opponents Tom Pritchard and John Murcott conceded after hole number five.

The match of the day was between Ray Bowen and Peter Cray challenging the pair currently in third position, Mike Anthony and John Stevenson. Ray and Peter were four down after seven holes, but then in these abject conditions made a miraculous come back and by the 12th were one up. Then level on the 14th after Ray Bowen had holed a treacherous 10-footer for a brave half.

The players crossed the bridge to carry on this drama. Halves on the next two holes kept this match on the boil until the 17th when Mike and John made a magnificent birdie two to go one up.

The 18th produced a tense finish, with final putts just slipping by the hole. But Mike and John held on for the narrowest of victories; keep their third place in the league and are still in reach of the leaders.

The two Philips, Marsden and Watkins, were swept away by the Dave Moran and Simon Evans machine, losing this one on the 12th. Dave and Simon were seemingly impervious to the weather. The Philips were porous. Dave and Simon had played excellent golf and there they sit one point off the lead waiting to pounce.

Phil Carpenter and Steve Price may have set a league record for the number of times they have halved their matches this winter. Six times they have finished their rounds all-square, and this week they shared the points with George Pegg and Stephen Watkins.

Currently at the top of the table are Colin Smith and Ian Thomas. This week their opponents were Andrew North, in as a substitute for Clive Law, and Jonathon Broome. The match had a very bad start, with Ian Thomas forgetting to bring his golf shoes, and he had to return home to fetch them.

Well, once he was fully attired he and Colin carried on with the form they have shown all season, devouring Andrew and Jonathon six and five to maintain their one point lead at the top of the table.

Ian had, of course, managed to hold up progress of play most successfully, but he had no remorse. Everyone was glad he was so wet.

After his shower bath, he then discovered he had forgotten to bring spare shorts. "Could we hold up the raffle, while he went home once again?" The answer was "No" and there he sat shortless, an embarrassment to all, but still at the top of the table.

The final league positions for the first three, and also the spoonists, will be decided next week on the final day. So the winter will conclude full of excitement.

The day ended with the presentation of a silver hip flask to the previous captain, Andrew North. Fred Adlam spoke some very kind and deserved words in praise of Andrew recognising all his work in making season 2000/2001 such a great success.

Results were: D. Morgan and G. Glaves halved with P. Moss and G. Spain (agreed on fifth); C. Smith and I. Thomas bt A. North and J. Broome 6 and 5; G. J. Price and J. S. Murphy halved with R. F. Murphy and S. Harries (agreed on fifth); P. Watkins and T. McLean bt F. Adlam and B. Dooley 3 and 2; B. Hartley and J. Davies bt T. Pritchard and J. Murcott conceded on the fifth; M. Anthony and J. Stevenson bt R. Bowen and P. Cray 1 up; D. Moran and S. Evans bt P. Marsden and Ph. Watkins 7 and 6; G. Pegg and St. Watkins halved with P. Carpenter and S. Price.