It was a slow but steady start to the first week back after the Christmas break.

There were just two matches in Division 1 with the first being an interclub meeting between White Knights B and White Knights A. With the battle for the division title still close it was no surprise that the Knights put out a pretty strong A team that dominated the match. Only a draw between Malcolm Probert and David Guy saved the B team from total annihilation and the ½- 4½ score in the A team’s favour keeps them firmly in charge at the top of the division.

The other match in the division saw bottom placed Emperors put up a valiant fight against a White Knights C team that was stronger than the B team fielded two nights previously. The Emperors managed to hold their own on the top two boards and win on board 3 but losses on boards 4 and 5 gave the Knights a 3-2 victory and a boost that took them above their B team and into 3rd place in the table.

It was a similar situation in Division 2 where there were also just the two matches. On the Monday it was the turn of the Morriston club to hold an interclub fixture. This time it was between Morriston Catalan and Morriston English. No real surprise that the E team were soundly beaten 4-1 and were only saved from a total wipe out thanks to a win by Joe Spooner on board 5.

In the other Division 2 match Briton Ferry Giants travelled to Upper Killay where they faced the Merlins. The Giants fielded an unusually strong team but as it turned out they only just managed the victory. Draws on the top two boards but wins on boards 3 and 4 for the Giants and a win on board 5 for the Merlins. The 3-2 win for the Giants takes them to within one point of the leaders.

Division 3 should have seen three matches but the one between CN Tribunes and St Michael’s School has been postponed until later in the year. In the other two matches De la Beche D played host to their fellow club members in the E team. The D team was boosted by the addition of two new members (Marc Asensio and Robin Kerremans) and with both of them winning their games their presence proved decisive. Overall a 3½-1½ win for the D team team with the defeat for the E team keeping them firmly rooted at the bottom of the table.

The other match was between top of the table BF Brunel and second placed UK Harriers. It should have been a comfortable victory for the much stronger Briton Ferry team but as it happened they only just scrapped through. The Harriers took an early lead thanks to a win on board 5 but this was soon overtaken when the Ferry team won on boards 2 and 3. The game on board 1 went into a Rook and Pawn endgame that was won by Steve Jeacock for the Harriers and it all came down to the evenly balanced game on board 4. Time, however, was of the essence with Jonathan Davies for Brunel holding a substantial advantage. The loss on time by the Harriers allowed the Brunel team to take the win 3-2 and heave a substantial sigh of relief. They remain top with a 100% record while Harriers are still in second place but with Morriston F breathing down their necks.

For those of you who think far ahead Les Philpin has announced the dates of next season’s weekend congress. It is being held over the weekend of the 20th to 22nd November 2020.

A reminder that the annual Rapidplay tournament is being held on Saturday 1st February at the Upper Killay Recreational Hall. Start time 10 am. To enter contact Bill Hewitt by email at Billhewitt856@gmail.com

10/01/2020