The sun almost shone on the morning of the annual match against Haverhill, though there was much banter and sunny dispositions as Captain Pete read out the teams and everyone readied themselves for the match ahead.
It’s always a good start when our two top officials, Captain Pete and VC Malcolm, are paired together. You know that they will lead us well. However, on this occasion they met a Haverhill player of high quality with lots of shots who played them off the course. They said that they enjoyed the match but they went down 4/3.

John and Graham had a close game though Graham’s shoulders were very sore by the end in having to carry John for most of the time. Three birdies on the front nine put them in a good position but the opposition nibbled away at them on the back, but they held on to win 1up.

Allen Smith had to substitute at the last minute and for this Mike was most thankful as he deemed Allen to be the ‘Supersub’. There was never more than a couple of holes in it and Allen and Mike ran out winners 1up.

Peter and Brian wasted their energy by twice birdieing the same hole (they didn’t hold up the game behind) and by doing so lost 1down. Peter said they were very unlucky!

John was very complimentary about Phil’s game ‘He played very well!’ but Phil said John’s putting made all the difference he having sunk a 25ft putt on the 9^th. They won 5/4.

In Trevor’s and Andy’s game a lot of good golf was played. It was always close but our boys ran out winners 2/1.

In the last game Ian and Ray, both who are capable of marvellous things, ran out 4/3 winners. They were lucky to do so as Ian miscounted on the 14^th and gave the opposition the hole when in fact they had only halved.

As always, all the matches were played in the proper spirit and enjoyed by all. The meal was tasty and afterwards Captain Pete gave a bottle of wine to one of the Haverhill players in the last group for nearest to the pin on the 3^rd and GV (not again!) for nearest on the 7^th. John Levey, the Haverhill captain announced the score 5½ – 2½ to Stoke and wished everyone a safe journey home.

Many thanks to John Williams for taking on the responsibility of reporting on todays match - thanks John.