The first day of bright sunshine for a week or more at Cardigan, as the mist and fog that had prevailed finally lifted, so it was a case of get your arms brown while you can!

Always a pleasure to go to the Cardigan course, as they give you a good welcome and an even better game, although this time the course had been affected by the weather, or lack of it, last year.

Ken Gouldsbrough and partner David Rees didn't put a foot wrong until the eighth, when a tardy bunker shot cost them the hole against Tony Simpkin and Hugh Lewis. But they kept going, hoping for a minor miracle. Ever magnanimous in a 3 and 2 defeat, captain Ken said that "David had been let down by his captain" who "was a burden too heavy to carry". Well, an admission indeed, and Tony and Hugh were thankful for the win.

John Hancock and John D. R. Williams had a cracking game against Peter Talbot and Glyn Davies. John D. R. said his partner played a typical single handicapper game, to hold them together against a pairing that were giving nothing away at all. In fact, at one stage, it was thought that Glyn's expletive count, was designed to be off-putting, but being hard of hearing was an advantage. An excellent game with great company.

Following close behind were Newman Vincent and David Evans, against Ted Wells and David Edwards. David, Evans that is, was on a bit of a high after his previous successes in the Tenby medal round, and was looking to post a win with Newman. But, according to Newman, as opposed to Hoyle, David lost the crucial holes that they should have won, but won the holes that they did win! Hmm. Newman then said that he at least parred the last two holes on his own. Unfortunately, the game was over by then.

Bob Parsons and David Morgan redressed the balance somewhat, against Mike Snow and Ieuan Davies, with a 1 up win. Being at dormie 2 up, meant that crucial decisions had to be made on the last, as they managed to let the 17th go begging. But David rose to the occasion, and sank an eight-foot putt to seal the game. Exciting stuff.

Bob Howse and Des Stone continued the winning streak against Ken Hadley and Keith Lewis. But not before a slight hiccup in pick-ups (pick-ups as in picking up by car, not "pick up you can have that putt") between Des and Owen Monaghan, who was conspicuous by his absence anyway. Being an hour late, Des had to leave it to Bob to hold the fort for a bit, which he did to the tune of being 2 up on his own, until an out of breath Des appeared on a tee out in the country. Bob said he went downhill after Des arrived, but being the pros that they are, and Des putting in his two penneth, a 2 up win over a strong Cardigan pair was brilliant!

Now Alan Yates was a bit perturbed about the elephant grass on the course. By that he meant that he shouldn't have been in the rough so much as he was anyway! But he and Tony Ranoe were up against it with Alan Wonfor and Denis Ludgate. Having had the misfortune to play against this pair in the distant past, I can appreciate their concern! But Alan and Tony 'hung on in there', but had to succumb on the 16th to a canny pair.

"Not playing to our true potential," said Jack Hasdell, as he and John Bonar had to say "enough" to Bill Frost and Ken Robinson. But in good company, and having a tight game with nothing being given away, it was a long haul to finish on the 17th to a strong Cardigan pair.

"We were magnificent, but I was a bit more magnificent than John Cook," said Bob Harris, as they stormed to a 5 and 3 win over Mostyn Yeomans and Brian Young. Being two down after two meant that fingers had to be pulled out, and so they were, and this obviously led to Bob's modest outburst. Always one ready to give a comment, Bob has surpassed his previous attempts at modesty!

Cardigan's Don Farthing and Ken Evans made a valiant attempt to overcome Tenby's in-form Derek Bath and Brian Waters. It was left to Derek to opine that Don, who had made a brief appearance from the Smoke, played with a Ryder Cup approach to the game, and was so ably supported by partner Ken, that he was surprised that they didn't beat them by a huge amount, but was pleased that the game finished in Tenby's favour on the 18th against super opponents. Yes!

By the way, we wish Cardigan's Malcolm Wilson all the best, as he is due all sorts of bypasses and things. We look forward to seeing you back in action again soon.

Arthur Smith, Cardigan's evergreen mascot now in his 92nd year, was as sprightly as ever collecting monies for the raffle. Good to see you looking so young Arthur. Apologies for the picture you don't see, as a bit of finger trouble over part of the lens didn't do you any good at all!

Finally, Bart Youll, who was going to struggle a bit on his own, as Owen Monaghan was conspicuous by his absence as previously stated, made a great start by having four pars in the first seven holes, "then reality kicked in," he said, and Dewi Evans and Glyn Williams were happy to oblige by taking the final game for Cardigan.

Absent Owen was believed to be concocting a plausible excuse, prior to being 'hauled up before the beak', as it were. But this game ensured that Cardigan stayed home with a proper halved match.

Captain Tony Simpkin and Tenby's Ken Gouldsbrough (pictured) offered the usual welcomes and thanks to each other and each other's teams, for a job well done on the day. Tony wondered that as Tenby had been going since 1888, did they still have members playing! The way that some Tenby players were feeling, they felt that old!

Ken was pleased that Tenby had come away with a good half, looked forward to the return match at home, and thanked steward Pat and his staff for the meal.

Scores (Cardigan names first): T. Simpkin and H. Lewis bt K. Gouldsbrough and D. Rees 3 and 2; P. Talbot and G. Davies lost to J. Hancock and J. D. R. Williams 2 up; T. Wells and D. Edwards bt D. Evans and N. Vincent 4 and 2; M. Snow and I. Davies lost to B. Parsons and D. Morgan 1 up; K. Hadley and K. Lewis lost to B. Howse and D. Stone 2 up; A. Wonfor and D. Ludgate bt T. Ranoe and A. Yates 4 and 2; B. Frost and K. Robinson bt J. Hasdell and J. Bonar 3 and 1; M. Yeomans and B. Young lost to J. Cook and B. Harris 5 and 3; D. Farthing and K. Evans lost to D. Bath and B. Waters 1 up; D. Evans and G. Williams bt B. Youll.

Cardigan 5, Tenby 5.

J.B.H.