Soham winter 2022-23

The EACF Soham indoor season kicked off with the traditional Inter-Counties event with a full complement of eight teams taking part, mostly from within the EACF but also including Lancashire and Yorkshire with the mouth-watering prospect of a Roses clash - for which the honours went to the White Rose county. This was quite probably the strongest ever field on show at Soham with all but two teams incurring time penalties and all but one needing peels, and a combined handicap across the teams of -3½. In the end Essex retained their title running out comfortable winners by being undefeated. Cambridgeshire and Suffolk filled positions two and three, both with four wins from five but Cambridgeshire winning the head to head, winning more within time and having a vastly superior points difference. Indeed Suffolk managed a net +2 points from four wins and one loss, possibly a record low net points for win percentage ratio.

County	Players	Total CA handicap	Soham handicap
Essex	Alison (-1½) & David (-2½) Maugham	-4	3 peels -2½ minutes
Cambridgeshire	Gabrielle Higgins (-2) & Debbie Lines (-1½)	-3½	3 peels -2½ minutes
Lancashire	Annabel McDiarmid (-1) & Lorna Dewar (-1)	-2	3 peels -2½ minutes
Northamptonshire	Ian Lines (-1½) & Adrian Kirby (-½)	-2	3 peels -2½ minutes
Hertfordshire	Nick Mounfield (-2) & Heather Bennett (2)	0	2 peels -2½ minutes
Suffolk	Phil Eardley (-2) & Paul Hetherington (2½)	½	2 peels -2½ minutes
Yorkshire	Beatrice (-½) & Sophie (2½) McGlenn	2	1 peel
Lincolnshire	Peter Hanley (2) & Terrey Sparks (3½)	5½	0

County	Essex	Cambs	Suf- folk	North -ants	Yorks	Lincs	Herts	Lancs	Wins	Wins within time	Net points	Rank
Essex		+6		+7	+13	+9		+5	5	5	+40	1
Cambridgeshire	-6		+14	+10		+11	+4(T)		4	3	+33	2
Suffolk		-14			+4(T)	+5	+2(T)	+5	4	2	+2	3
Northamptonshire	-7	-10			+7	+7		+8	3	3	+5	4
Yorkshire	-13		-4(T)	-7			+6	+5	2	2	-13	5
Lincolnshire	-9	-11	-5	-7			+13		1	1	-19	6
Hertfordshire		-4(T)	-2(T)		-6	-13		+2(T)	1	0	-23	7
Lancashire	-5		-5	-8	-5		-2(T)		0	0	-25	8

Report by Paul Hetherington

The MCP Mallets saw day two of the 2022/3 winter programme at Soham with a much greater range of handicaps on display than the previous day, from -2½ to 18. Sadly only five teams were entered but the outcome still all hinged on the final game of Dunham v the Pros, with the final result only sealed by a peg out as time was called. The narrow +4 victory for the Pros meant that Socks were the winners, having beaten Pros whilst Dunham had had one win on time to relegate them to third. The table was propped up by Marketing who did a great job at making the other teams feel good by losing all four matches within time.

Club/Team	'Socks'	'Pros'	Dun- ham	Down- ham	'Mark- eting'	Wins	Wins within time	Net points	Rank
'Socks' Alison (-1½) & David (-2½) Maugham		+9	-3(T)	+12	+6	3	3	+24	1
'Pros' Gabrielle Higgins (-2) & Nick Mounfield (-2)	-9		+4	+10	+4	3	3	+9	2
Gt Dunham Duncan Hector (½) & Peter Ross (10)	+3(T)	-4		+5	+12	3	2	+16	3
Downham Jonathan Toye (6) & David Haslam (18)	-12	-10	-5		+13	1	1	-14	4
'Marketing' Annabel McDiarmid (-1) & Paul Hetherington (2½)	-6	-4	-12	-13		0	0	-35	5

Report by Paul Hetherington

In the first of two pre-Christmas days several players took to wearing festive hats including the runaway winners Alison and David Maugham who drew one and won the remaining five games, leaving all other teams with a negative points difference. Adrian Kirby and Stephen Cornelius managed second place on account of inflicting that solitary draw, having shared games with third placed Jonathan Toye and Alex Lake.

Club/Team	Soham handicap	'Socks'	P'boro	'New- Down'	'HeHa'	Wins	Wins within time	Net points	Rank
'Socks' Alison (-1½) & David (-2½) Maugham	3 peels -2½ minutes		Draw +4 (T)	+5 +8	+11 +3(T)	5½	3	+31	1
Peterborough Adrian Kirby (-½) & Stephen Cornelius (8)	½ bisque	-4(T) Draw		-7 +2(T)	+1(T) +1(T)	3½	0	-7	2
'NewDown' Jonathan Toye (6) & Alex Lake (16)	3½ bisques	-8 -5	+7 -2(T)		+2(T) +5	3	2	-1	3
'HeHa' Brian Havill (0) & Paul Hetherington (2½)	1 peel	-11 -3(T)	-1(T) -1(T)	-2(T) -5		0	0	-23	4

Report by Paul Hetherington

The pre-Christmas Sunday again saw an array of Christmas hats and jumpers on display and again a runaway victory for the undefeated Maughams. Indeed there was a neat spread of games won that determined the placing of the five teams competing with the middle placed team also ending with a net zero points score though their final game was completed as a single (with adjusted handicap) versus Pinchbeck as David Haslam had to retire after three hectic games.

Club/Team	Soham handicap	'Socks'	Dun- ham	'Old Col'	Nor- wich	Pinch- beck	Wins	Wins within time	Net points	Rank
Lancashire Alison (-1½) & David (-2½) Maugham	3 peels -2½ minutes		+5	+7	+3(T)	+6	4	3	+21	1
Gt Dunham Duncan Hector (½) & Peter Ross (10)	1½ bisques	-5		+6(T)	+6	+3	3	2	+10	2
'Old Col' Paul Hetherington (2½) & David Haslam (18)	3½ bisques	-7	-6(T)		+8	+5(T)	2	1	0	3
Norwich John Reddish (4½) & Sarah Barley (7)	1½ bisques	-3(T)	-6	-8		+3(T)	1	0	-14	4
Pinchbeck Terrey Sparks (3½) & Ken Knock (12)	2½ bisques	-6	-3	-5(T)	-3(T)		0	0	-17	5

Report by Paul Hetherington

The Belgian Cup saw some very competitive and close games including a first defeat for David and Alison Maugham, going down to Terrey Sparks and Sarah Barley. However the Maughams recovered well to win all their other matches and once more triumph beating runners up heather Bennett and Stephen Cornelius by two on time in the deciding match.

Club/Team	'Socks'	'HSBC'	Nor- wich	P'boro	Lancs	Colch- ester	Pinch- beck	Wins	Wins within time	Net points	Rank
'Socks' David Maugham (-2½) & Alison Maugham (-1½)		+2(T)	-4	+3	+10	+14	+7	5	4	+32	1
'HSBC' Heather Bennett (2) & Stephen Cornelius (8)	-2(T)		Draw	+9	+5	+8	+8(T)	4.5	3	+28	2
Norwich Terrey Sparks (3½) & Sarah Barley (7)	+4	Draw		Draw	-3(T)	+4	+5(T)	4	2	+10	3
Peterborough Adrian Kirby (-½) & Paul Hetherington (2½)	-3	-9	Draw		+14	+4(T)	+6	3.5	2	+12	4
Lancashire Annabel McDiarmid (-1) & Rick Harding (-1)	-10	-5	+3(T)	-14		+2(T)	+4(T)	3	0	-20	5
Colchester Al Brown (4½) & Martin Tunmore (14)	-14	-8	-4	-4(T)	-2(T)		+11	1	1	-21	6
Pinchbeck Peter Hanley (2) & Ken Knock (12)	-7	-8(T)	-5(T)	-6	-4(T)	-11		0	0	-41	7

Report by Paul Hetherington

The Soham Trophy once more saw David and Alison Maugham triumph but only by virtue of hitting the peg to pip Duncan Hector and Peter Ross the runners-up by one in a really close fought game. In all other matches both teams accumulated large wins with both having a net points difference in excess of forty. It was though a great day to illustrate players of all ages and physical abilities competing on a level playing field with a huge shout out to Rachel Hanks making her Soham and AC debut in a wheelchair in partnership with Adrian Kirby, pulling off several really great shots.

*Max 18 allowed

Club/Team	'Socks'	Gt. Dnhm	'Nor- Cam'	'Bar- lam'	'Nene'	Lancs	P'boro	Bye	Wins	Wins within time	Net points	Rank
'Socks' David Maugham (-2½) & Alison Maugham (-1½)		+1	+11		+12	+11	+11		5	5	+46	1
Gt. Dunham Duncan Hector (½) & Peter Ross (10)	-1		+8		+12	+14	+10		4	4	+43	2
'NorCam' Jonathan Toye (6) & Alex Lake(12)	-11	-8		+9		+2(T)		W	3	2	-8	3
'Barlam' Sarah Barley (7) & David Haslam (18)			-9		Draw	-2(T)	+5	W	2.5	2	-6	4
'Nene' Nick Steiner (-½) & Paul Hetherington (2½)	-12	-12		Draw			+12	W	2.5	2	-12	5
Lancashire Annabel McDiarmid (-1) & Rick Harding (-1)	-11	-14	-2(T)	+2(T)				W	2	1	-25	6
Peterborough Adrian Kirby (-½) & Rachel Hanks (24*)	-11	-10		-5	-12			W	1	1	-38	7
Bye			L	L	L	L	L		0	0	0	8

Report by Paul Hetherington

The Martins Trophies saw a strong field with the cut off between high and low handicaps resting between 2 and 2.5. Sadly the number of entrants meant that the only way to play against each person in your own block required facing the same opponent from the other block throughout. In the end the last three matches decided the outcome of the two blocks, Alison Maugham winning the top block by drawing against Adrian Kirby and wining on winning more games within time 4 to 2.

In the high handicap block Paul Hetherington defeated Sarah Barley whilst David Haslam lost his final game, meaning Paul topped the block.

Lower handicappers	AMm	AK	AMcD	RH	HB	DM	Wins	Wins within time	Net points	Rank
Alison Maugham (-1½)		Draw	+3	+5	+6	+10	4.5	4	+24	1
Adrian Kirby (-½)	Draw		+6(T)	+5(T)	+4	+7	4.5	2	+22	2
Annabel McDiarmid (-1)	-3	-6(T)		+9	-6	+2(T)	2	1	-4	3
Richard Harding (-1)	-5	-5(T)	-9		+3(T)	+11	2	1	-5	4
Heather Bennett (2)	-6	-4	+6	-3(T)		Draw	1.5	1	-7	5
David Maugham (-2½)	-10	-7	-2(T)	-11	Draw		0.5	0	-30	6

Higher handicappers	PH	DH	SB	HG	KK	TS	Wins	Wins within time	Net points	Rank
Paul Hetherington (2½)		Draw	+11	+2(T)	+7	+10	4.5	3	+30	1
David Haslam (18)	Draw		+3(T)	-6	+4	+6	3.5	2	+7	2
Sarah Barley (7)	-11	-3(T)		+9	+5(T)	+5	3	2	+5	3
Hugh Gilbert (7)	-2(T)	+6	-9		+6(T)	+3	3	2	+4	4
Ken Knock (12)	-7	-4	-5(T)	-6(T)		Draw	0.5	0	-22	5
Terrey Sparks (3½)	-10	-6	-5	-3	Draw		0.5	0	-24	6

Report by Paul Hetherington

The Albert Lawrence Trophy saw some tight competition with only the winners Alison and David Maugham not losing two or more games. Despite this the final game between the Maughams and Nick Steiner/Paul Hetherington decided the destination of the trophy in a winner-takes-all contest. The day was also remarkable for the fact that just the one drawn game went to time despite two teams losing 2.5 minutes throughout.

Club/Team	'Socks'	'Old Col'	Lancs	Gt. Dunham	'NorCam'	Wins	Wins within time	Net points	Rank
'Socks' David Maugham (-2½) & Alison Maugham (-1½)		+8	+5	+13	+5	4	4	+31	1
'Old Col' (19) Nick Steiner (-½) & Paul Hetherington (2½)	-8		+4	+10	-1	2	2	+5	2
Lancashire Rich Harding (-1) & Annabel McDiarmid (-1)	-5	-4		Draw	+4	1.5	1	-5	3
Gt. Dunham Duncan Hector (½) & Peter Ross (10)	-13	-10	Draw		+4	1.5	1	-19	4
'NorCam' Jonathan Toye (6) & Alex Lake (12)	-5	+1	-4	-4		1	1	-12	5

Report by Paul Hetherington

A close fought contest which went to the final stroke of the final game with just seven seconds left on the clock that saw Midfolk defeat Socks by virtue of Paul Hetherington pegging out from between corner one and hoop one with Alison Maugham left just a few feet from the peg, otherwise sure to finish next turn. The win for Gabrielle Higgins and Paul Hetherington seemed all the more surprising given that their first game was a -12 thrashing by Heather Bennett and Sarah Barley. This was the first event of the season where a Maugham was not amongst the trophy winners.

Club/Team	'Mid- folk'	'Socks	P'boro+	'Bees'	Lancs	Wins	Wins within time	Net points	Rank
'Midfolk' Gabrielle Higgins (-2) & Paul Hetherington (2½)		+1	+12	-12	+8	3	3	+9	1
'Socks' David Maugham (-2½) & Alison Maugham (-1½)	-1		+10	Draw	+1(T)	2.5	1	+10	2
Peterborough+ Adrian Kirby (-½) & Paul Hetherington / Annabel McDiarmid / Alison Maugham / Heather Bennett	-12	-10		+2(T)	+11	2	1	-9	3
'Bees' Heather Bennett (2) & Sarah Barley (7)	+12	Draw	-2(T)		-3	1.5	1	+7	4
Lancashire (1½) Rich Harding (-1) & Annabel McDiarmid (-1)	-8	-1(T)	-11	+3		1	1	-17	5

Report by Paul Hetherington

Normal service was resumed on the Sunday with 'Socks', aka David and Alison Maugham, running away to victory and ending the day the only team with a positive net points score. It was also a day of three draws. Despite the outcome it all hinged on the final game between 'Socks' and 'Nene' where a 'Nene' win would have seen them triumph at the Maugham’s expense, but the result never looked in doubt and the season ended with the Maugham household housing nine of the 11 trophies, just missing out on the high handicap trophy from the progressive day (it would require an incredible entry for them to slip into that one) and the previous day's Cornelius Cup. Still the most outstanding achievement at Soham.

Club/Team	'Socks'	'Nene'	Lancs	'New- Pin'	Gt. Dun- ham	Wins	Wins within time	Net points	Rank
'Socks' David Maugham (-2½) & Alison Maugham (-1½)		+10	+11	+8	+6	4	4	+35	1
'Nene' Nick Steiner (-½) & Paul Hetherington (2½)	-10		Draw	+5	+1(T)	2.5	1	-4	2
Lancashire Rich Harding (-1) & Annabel McDiarmid (-1)	-11	Draw		Draw	+4	2	1	-7	3
'NewPin' Terrey Sparks (3½) & Alex Lake (12)	-8	-5	Draw		Draw	1	0	-13	4
Gt. Dunham Duncan Hector (½) & Peter Ross (10)	-6	-1(T)	-4	Draw		0.5	0	-11	5