Better than the Algarve, Southern Spain or Tenerife, or wherever you want to name, well, apart from Honolulu or the Caribbean, of course, but Tenby had it all for our third game of the new season, against Neath. Wall to wall sunshine is what we are talking here, and the daffodil shirted Tenby seniors, were fired up to maintain a 100 per cent record, against one of our favourite fixtures outside of Pembrokeshire. Always brilliant company, it was almost a shame to have a home advantage!

But, opening the proceedings, was our seniors captain, J. D. R. Williams (pictured above, having difficulty getting his hand out of his pocket), and his doughty partner Vince Shaw, who, although admitting to having broad shoulders, said they were getting a bit sore by the end of the game against Neath's captain Roy Thomas and partner John Jones. The second time in a row that J. D. R. has scored. Sorry, scored a half, I meant to say, and once again, against some super company.

Second off were John Hancock and Colin Griffith against Alan Phillips and Ray Tooze. We struck early, to take a five up after seven advantage, and it looked like being a breeze, but we went for a snooze on the 12th and 13th, and then Ray moved up a gear to reduce the deficit to only two up. Alan said that it was only his missed birdie putt on the 17th that could have caused a major upset. Colin and I couldn't have agreed more, and took the two up win with some alacrity.

The clan Morgan, Roy and Tony, recorded a 3 and 2 win over Alan Lloyd and Alan Maddock. Roy insisted that his '40' out was put in the Observer, and Tony said that he was quite happy to take a minor role this week, but next week would be different. Now that is the spirit!

Yet another Morgan, David this time, and Roy Gundry, had a most enjoyable game against Colin Lloyd and Dave Williams. They were two up after the front nine, as Roy's $19 dollar and 25 cents driver was performing quite well. Roy wouldn't, or couldn't stop talking about it. But a final 6 and 4 win over the Neath pair, put Tenby into a favourable position

The highlight of the game between Tenby's Newman Vincent and Peter Hart, our first super sub of the week, and Neath's Terry Shufflebotham and Ray Walters, was a three off the tee on the 16th. But still managing to win the hole for a 3 and 2 win, prompted Newman to say that as far as he was concerned, the highlight was the company from Neath. So say all of the seniors, no matter what their score.

Ken Gouldsbrough and Des Stone had a fairly tight match, with lots of halves, but the Neath pairing of Mike Bradley and Bill Cantwell could not quite get the upper hand along the way. So a 4 and 2 win for Tenby was probably the right result.

A 6 and 5 win for second super sub Dai Rees and Tony Morris started with Dai's  birdie on the first and finished with Tony's birdie on the 13th, and all that with a dodgy trolley that had Dai asking all and sundry for bits and pieces to hold the darn thing together! There must be something in the water that these subs drink, because they all turn on the style when needed. I wonder if they are related in some way to Ole Gunnar?

Hywel Probert said: "I had an excellent partner in Derek Bath, and we were playing against two gentlemen in Ron Mathews and Colin Jones. It was a shame that the game had to finish when it did on the 17th." Nice sentiments indeed.

Biggest win of the day came from Jack Hasdell and Clifton John. By 8 and 7 would you believe, and this against two canny players, Norman Bater and Ainsley Jones. Norman opined that a lesson had been given, and Ainsley wanted a copy of the Tenby Observer sent to him. A pleasure to do so.

Finally, a 6 and 5 win for Tenby pair Owen Monaghan and Brian Waters over Peter Yorke and Lyn Solderstrom. When asked for a comment, Owen said: "Can you say it for us". Well, I don't think that there is enough room on these pages to make the comments I'd like to, but suffice it to say, that for tail-end Charlies, you should be renamed, tail-end Dependables!

After a filling match meal and lots of good conversation, John D. R. welcomed Neath captain Roy Thomas and his team, and said that he had been totally impressed with Roy and partner John Jones's game plan, and said that it was the hardest game he had had up to now. He also refused to tell any more jokes, as he was accused of getting the punch lines in the wrong place. A bit like playing the piano like Les Dawson! But he thanked everyone for their efforts, and Mac and Fay and Linda for the meal.

Roy Thomas replied by thanking John and Tenby for the hospitality, and proceeded to upstage the Tenby captain, by telling a comical tale with a correct punchline. "Never mind John," he said, "your heart's in the right place."

The day was finished off well by Vince Shaw's own brand of humour.

Results: J. D. R.Williams and Vince Shaw halved with Roy Thomas and John Jones; John Hancock and Colin Griffith bt Alan Phillips and Roy Tooze 2 up; Roy Morgan and Tony Morgan bt Alan Lloyd and Alan Maddock 3 and 2; David Morgan and Roy Gundry bt Colin Lloyd and Dave Williams 6 and 4; Peter Hart (sub) and Newman Vincent bt Terry Shufflebotham and Ray Walters 3 and 2; Ken Gouldsbrough and Des Stone bt Mike Bradley and Bill Cantwell 4 and 2; Tony Morris and Dai Rees (sub) bt Malcolm Pearn and Glen Ball 6 and 5; Derek Bath and Hywel Probert bt Ron Mathews and Colin Jones 2 up; Jack Hasdell and Clifton John bt Norman Bater and Ainsley Jones 8 and 7; Owen Monaghan and Brian Waters bt Peter Yorke and Lyn Solderstrom 6 and 4.

Tenby 9.5, Neath .5

J.B.H.