The League got back to normal last week and in Division 1 there were three matches. First up was the inter-club clash between White Knights C and White Knights B. The club arranged their teams so that the individual games were not too one sided and the outcome reflected this. With two draws and a win apiece the teams cancelled each other out and banked one match point each.

On the same night bottom of the table All Blacks took on third placed Morriston A. In spite of a win and a draw on the top two boards they were overwhelmed on the bottom three and Morriston A went home the winners 1½-3½.

The following night Nidum travelled to the University to take on the team that had whitewashed White Knights B the previous week. This time, however, it was the University A team that was on the receiving end of a massacre. The 0-5 score line in favour of Nidum keeps them securely in second spot two points ahead of Morriston A but still trailing White Knights A who have a match in hand.

There were also three matches in Division 2. On the Monday Morriston D were visited by a marginally stronger Upper Killay Merlins. The difference in playing strength proved large enough to give the Merlins the best of a 1½-3½ score line and moved them 3 points clear of bottom placed Morriston C.

On the Wednesday the Emperors, nominally at home, played the University B team and, in theory, should have gone home the victors. Against the odds, however, boards 1 and 3 went the way of the University as did the final result - 1½-3½ in favour of the University.

The third match on Division 2 was between De la Beche A and White Knights D. It was a close fought affair with both teams getting two wins each and sharing the point on board 3. The draw brings the Knights level with both the Emperors and Morriston B who have a match in hand. University with four matches in hand could theoretically catch them all so there are no predictions being made at this stage.

Just the two matches in Division 3 with the first being between Upper Killay Harriers and Morriston F. On the night Morriston F overcame the Harriers thanks to wins on the top three boards but unknowingly fell foul of the nomination rules in doing so. Irrespective of what the Divisional Controller decides to do about it the game results will still stand for grading purposes so no individual will be penalized.

The final match was between Briton Ferry Brunel and De la Beche C. Over the four boards played they cancelled each other out with a win each plus two draws. De la Beche C, however, turned up one player short so the defaulted board allowed Brunel to claim the victory and stay top of the Division with 7 wins out of 7.

The match between St Michael’s school and De la Beche B due to take place on the Friday was postponed to a later date.

03/12/17