A week after the last match and Tenby Seniors were involved in a return fixture at the expansive Milford Haven golf course. Things were looking dodgy as the team arrived and the dark broody clouds were looking a bit ominous.

They need not have worried. Idwal’s control over the weather continues. His knees must be sore after all the praying he has to do. On this occasion, however, all his energy was used up in ensuring the sun appeared with nothing left for his game.

He had chosen Richard Davies this week to help keep him out of trouble. Well he had to, really, since a few weeks back he had asked Richard to put his name on the team sheet and then not picked him. Unfortunately, it did not work. The opening pair failed to win a hole finding themselves four down after nine holes as the mighty Idwal was often out-driven by his 15 handicap opponent. Alan Dennison had chosen Peter Taylor and between them they did a demolition job on the Tenby captain, despite the back nine struggle to keep their heads above water.

Another pair to suffer the Milford backlash was that of Allen Watts and Brian Waters. Although they played reasonably well they found themselves three down after seven holes and were unable to retrieve any momentum. The Milford pars and birdies were often a shot too many for Allen due to the number of shots he had to concede. They accepted defeat on the fourteenth hole.

Derek Cole and Roger Scholfield were three down after four holes and thought they were in for massive defeat. However, in their match against Ivor McKenzie and Tony Davey they rallied and brought the match to all square and went one further by taking another hole. It did not last and they eventually had to report to their captain that they had lost three and one.

Idwal always provides the sunshine but one Tenby pair was praying for rain. John Hancock and David Rees declared that had there been just one drop of rain they would have walked in with an honourable half. They had to suffer the bright sunny conditions and grimace politely as Derek Evans and Rolly Council (who recently had a hole-in-one) led them to a three and two defeat.

Peter Williams was paired with Charlie McFee (Seniors’ Open winner) and they thought that they were on for a half. Having started on the seventeenth the par three sixteenth, down into the valley, was their last hole. They had reached that point and were only one down. A great drive by Charlie gave them the hope of winning the hole with a par. It was not to be as Brian Morgan put his ball in a better position and was able to putt out for a birdie, doubling their advantage to two holes.

There was another close encounter played out on the Milford course. Steve Decosimo, playing Milford for the first time, blended in well with Des Stone to open up a lead of three after eight holes. Brian Keen’s wayward balls on the front nine transformed into greater accuracy in the second nine as he and Owain Picton eased their way back into this match to draw level and then go one ahead.

A win on the fifteenth put the visitors level again and this was the position as they faced the last. Owain’s drive was the only good one as Steve and Des both drove into trees on the left. A good escape by Steve put him in with a chance of halving the hole and the match. It was not to be as gravity sdiverted the ball just below the hole as the degree of slope took effect.

Two more matches to be completed. Was anyone able to give Idwal even a glint of satisfaction? Unfortunately not. Ross James and Paul Bradley went down three and two against the steady Gerald Charles helped by Maurice Coe.

Even Mr Dink (John Hayhoe) supported by the in-form Mick Wale couldn’t bring any solace to the captain as Robin Probert and Mike Durand forced them to shake hands on their fifteenth hole.

A whitewash and Tenby had to return home dejected – not really, there was too much spirit and banter for any disappointment to linger. As consolation Tenby was allowed to win the three major prizes in the raffle while Milford members scooped up the golf balls.

To take the edge off the defeat, which Idwal had to announce, he told his best story yet. It was no joke followed by a great joke!

SECOND AWAY WIN FOR TENBY GC

North Pembrokeshire’s Newport GC was the venue for Tenby’s seventh Dyfed League match of the season. The setting is fantastic with panoramic sea and coastal views enjoyed from the clubhouse and most holes. Unfortunately, the vista could not be fully appreciated as it was a rather cloudy afternoon albeit there was no heavy rain.

The original holes, now the back nine, are true links. However, the new ones on higher ground behind have more of a parkland feel. A very stiff breeze blew off the Irish Sea and consequently scoring was not easy.

The top four games started on the first tee whilst the second four commenced on the 10th i.e. the original first hole. Tenby and Newport matches are invariably close and last Saturday’s encounter was no exception.

First out for Tenby were Ben Childs and Darren Thomas. They faced the experienced Paul Thomas and Wyn Walters. The game was all square after 15 holes but the visitors then lost the 16th and 17th and went down 2 & 1.

Big hitting Alan Webster and Loz Phillips are presently a regularly pairing. Their game against Nick Davies and Dan Griffiths ebbed and flowed. Playing the 18th, it was even but disastrous putting by the hosts gave the game to Tenby by 1 up.

In both the third and fourth games, the Tenby pairs were coasting at four up. Indeed, Adam Thomas and James Brown were dormie four up but then preceded to lose the remaining four holes and for a half with the ever green Dai Linquist and Mike Prager.

Lukcily, Roger Schooling and Rob Willcox did not capitulate to the same extent against Richard Thomas and Owen Duggan. They held on for a fine 2 & 1 win which put Tenby ahead in the match.

John Broomhead and Adam Thorne were behind for some time but dovetailed well and finished strongly to claim their 2 & 1 victory.

Tim Davies and Dai Cope were three down early on and fought back to level their game but then conceded the next three holes to find themselves dormie on the 16th tee. They won the next two but lost the 18th to succumb 1 down to father and son, Jim & Sion Penfold.

Gary McNeilly and Chris Beecher were occasionally ahead against Ifan Phillips and Barry Truslove but eventually lost on the last green by 1 down.

Consequently, the match was poised at three and a half each after seven games. Propping up for Tenby were Neil Webb and Nicky Allen.

They faced another son and father pairing, Owain and Derek Evans. The dynamic Tenby duo were just ahead for most of the game but towards the end it became very tense. However, a solid last two holes secured a 2 up win and an excellent away victory for Tenby by 4.5 to 3.5.

As reported previously, Machynys remain hot favourites for the Division 2 title. Nevertheless, Tenby’s win at Newport may provide them with a glimmer of hope. Another away victory at Glynhir tomorrow would definitely assist.

Dogs and wagging tails

Mid-table Tenby Rabbits played their latest Three Counties Summer League match at home against the current leaders, Carmarthen (writes our Links Reporter, Warren Hacker) hoping to reduce their lead at the top. Did the home advantage pay off or did the visitors pinscher win?

Captain Paul’s chosen battlers took to the course in their selected order with Steve C and John B first off, hoping to setter winning example to the rest of the team. One of their opponents was a long-haired Alsatian breeder (the dogs are long-haired, not the golfer) and the other was a walker (b walker actually) but the home pair set off like a greyhound out of the traps (should that be ’hutch’?) to go 2 up after 2 and with John playing like a Dalmatian (he had some good spots!) they kept their lead despite a strong comeback and they held on to win on the 15th.

On the course news was filtering through about other matches and at halfway things were looking puli for the home team with 4 down and only 2 (including the 1st group) up which wasn’t great news for Captain Paul who was monitoring things out on the Links, shouting encouragement to his troops so much he went husky, but he was hopeful things would change. Had he lost the plott?

Vice-Captain Steve W and Phil C (the ’W. C. team’) were looking flushed out on the course as they tried to match the par-filled efforts of their adversaries but their winning plans went down the pan as they lost before going ’over the line’. (Editor’s note- To save their embarrassment I have removed Warren’s reference to them having a ’dog-licence’ result defeat! They didn’t play like shih tzus either). Captain Paul hoped this wasn’t going to start a chain reaction.

Next off were the consistently reliable ’R & R’ team of Rees D and Robin B (unbeaten at home in their 2 outings) and they got the noses in front and stayed there, also managing to close out the match before the 14th. When asked for a ’dog reference’ for the match Robin said he’d be happy to be called anything (other than a sausage dog!).

Acting Treasurer Mark E was partnered with Chris S in pair 4 and they found themselves 3 down after 4, but snapped away at the heels of their opposition like terriers to come back to all square going ’over the line’. The homesters then parred the 17th to go 1 ahead, then backed that up by chipping in from Charlie’s Whiskers for a halving par to win by 1 up.

The ’B T pair’ (nothing to do with his phone call whilst he was in the car park) of Dave B and Peter T would be the next group onto the 18th green. It transpired that they had been behind for most of the match and were 3 down going over the line but then harriered their combatants with a 4, 2, 3 finish on the last 3 holes to snatch an excellent half. They said they were like gun dogs- always chasing after the birdies!

The final home group contained the Watkins brothers- G & T (no, not gin and tonic, Grant and Tom!) and they started off with a ’bassets round’- they were having allsorts of problems and found themselves 5 down at the turn. This needed a mastiff turn-around. The waywardness issues of their drivers changed- they were able to whippet back into shape- and an amazing comeback to all-square followed a birdie 2 on the 17th and then the 3rd shot into the 18th hit the flag to leave a tap-in par for a very unlikely but brilliant 1 up win for the homesters.

This meant the tail-end games had all ended on the final green, all with turn-arounds in fortune for the battling Tenby-ites and what had looked like a problem out on the course had converted itself into a 4.5- 1.5 home success which meant the game was a 7.5 pointer for Tenby which lifts them up to 42.5 points, and made Captain’s Paul after-meal speech less of an ordeal. If they’d have lost he’d have been in the dog-house. Carmarthen have 2 away games left and stand still top on 63 points. Tenby have 3 home games (against 3 of the top 5) plus an away game at Haverfordwest so a ’Top 3’ place (or maybe better?) could still be a possibility.

Grant has extended his lead at the top of the Mick Gillet Trophy to 7 points (he’s on 23) from Chris on 16, Steve W 15, Paul C on 14, Tom, Rees and Robin all on 13, Wyndham on 11 with John B, Adrian, Steve C, Bill and Peter all on 10.

Next Sunday morning the Rabbits play for the ’Jubilee Golf Cup’, presented by the late John Cook, so sign up on-line if you haven’t already done so. Summer League action returns on September 2nd at home to Garnant. Come on you red Tenby Rabbits!