'C' Team Off The Bottom Of Table

The 'C' team lifted themselves off the bottom of Division 4 with a 2.5 - 1.5 win against Kidsgrove last night. Wins for myself and Ernie on boards 1 and 2, plus a draw from Stuart on board 3, gave us the points. Click here for the match score card.

Close But No Cigar

The 'A' Team were narrowly beaten 3 - 2 in Division 1 by Newcastle 'A' last night, in a match that we should really have won. Glyn and I both drew our games on boards 3 and 5 respectively. I had a straightforward winning line in the endgame but, not for the first time this season, I failed to play it. However, I can't really complain as I was under pressure for most of the game and didn't really deserve a win. Kas had a clever checkmate in his game on board 4 but, unfortunately, Ray miscalculated in his  endgame on board 2 and converted an easy win into a loss. Click here for the match score card.

Max Shines But Can't Prevent County Defeat

Max was one of only 2 players to win for the County U140 team against Nottinghamshire yesterday afternoon. 2 defaults contributed to an 11 - 5 defeat but Max did well to win his game on board 4, playing with the Black pieces against an opponent graded 137. Click here for the match score card.

'B' Team Back On Track

After a disappointing start to the season the 'B' team got back to winning ways last night with a 3.5 - 1.5 win against fellow strugglers Holmes Chapel Rooks. If anything, the score slightly flattered the Rooks as my draw on board 3 looked to be a straightforward win on post-match analysis, while Max managed to lose on time while 2 pieces up, leaving Petru, Glyn and Grenville to secure the win that gave us the points. Click here for the match score card.

Gothard Cup Final

Our Gothard (U161) County Cup Final against Sutton Coldfield has been provisionally set for Wednesday 8th May. The match will be played at Stafford.

Grenville Does His Bit For The County

Grenville continued his winning ways for the Staffs U120 team yesterday, winning his game on board 8 against a previously unbeaten Derbyshire team. The final score was 7.5 - 4.5 to Staffs. Click here for the match score card.

Down To Earth With A Bump

The reality of life in Division 1 came home to the 'A' team last night when they were hammered 4.5 - 0.5 by Holmes Chapel. The result was no real surprise as we were outgraded on every single board, and by a massive 175 points overall. A draw for me on board 4 meant that we just about avoided the whitewash. Click here for the match score card.

Another Grandmaster Draw

My Grandmaster draw on board 3 wasn't enough to prevent the County U140 team going down by 9.5 - 6.5 against Worcestershire this afternoon.

An Avoidable Loss For The 'C' Team

The 'C' team blundered their way to yet another defeat last night. A 3-1 reverse at the hands of Cheddleton 'E' should actually have been a 3-1 win. Early draws from myself and Max on boards 1 and 2 left the score at 1-1. However, Grenville was 2 pawns up in his game on board 3 and should have had an easy win but managed to blunder it away in the ending. Chris spent ages gazing at the board and not looking at his clock and lost on time on board 4 in a position where he was winning a Rook. All in all a very disappointing result. Click here for the match score card.

The Division 4 Strong Men

The 'C' team find themselves in what is rapidly becoming their customary position of holding up the Division 4 table. A 3rd loss from our opening 4 matches last night, this time by 3.5 - 0.5 against Newcastle  'D',  leaves us rooted at the bottom of the table. It was only a draw from Ernie 'Endgame' Wilkinson on board 3 that saved us from a whitewash. Click here for the match score card.