The Tenby team travelled to Pembrey to face old foes and friends at Ashburnham in their first match of the 2018 season last Saturday.

Unfortunately, Ashburham were relegated from Division One last year when Tenby finished runners-up again in Division Two. Each club now has to put out eight rather than nine pairs per match.

The weather was glorious, although a stiff north-easterly breeze blew all day - this is a somewhat unusual wind for Ashburnham. The famous links were in an excellent overall condition to include the renowned greens.

Tenby’s top pair were Gavin Scotcher, who has returned to the club recently, and Alan Webster, previously at Haverfordwest. They found Welsh Youth international Aled Greville, who is ranked within the top 300 amateurs in Europe, and Justin Nicholas too hot to handle, going down three and two.

Dave Morris and Darren Thomas enjoyed a great battle against young Elliott Anderson and Ben Thomas. Morris was under par when the visitors claimed victory by the narrowest of margins, one-up.

Big-hitting Jack Harries and Martin Morris faced the experienced Richard Brice and Stuart Phillips. Brice’s birdie on the last green secured a half, which was apparently a fair result. Thus, after three games, the match was even at one-and-a-half points each.

However, Tenby won four of the remaining five games. Andrew Cope and Spencer Harries dovetailed well to beat Ashburnham’s captain-elect, Ian Thomas, and Martin Gravelle by one up.

Perhaps Mikey Harries and Neil Thomas’s victory should have been more convincing as they were far too good for Martin Timbrell and Martin Thomas, winning two up.

Steve Sutcliffe, who was still suffering from jet lag having returned from New Zealand a few days before, and Loz Phillips went down by two and one to the experienced pairing of Huw Dixon and Paul Anderson.

Consequently, Tenby were now just one point ahead, with only two games still on the course.

Debutant father and son, Lee and Keiron Lewis, fought hard to secure their one up win against Scott Johnston and Rob Saunders.

In the final game, Gary McNeilly and Ian Thomas started very well and were never behind. They beat Marcus James and Rob Stevens handsomely by four and three.

Any away win in the Dyfed League is an achievement, especially one at Ashburnham.

However, Tenby came away with an excellent 5.5 points to 2.5 points victory.

Tenby now look forward to their next league match at home to Newport on Saturday, April 28.