1. Colin Solloway 0-1 Gerry Nolan
2. Peter Rawcliffe 0-1 Giuseppe Valerio
3. Alan Heath 0.5-0.5 Peter Gill
4. Dave Wells 1-0 Nigel Staddon
5. John McKeown 1-0 Peter Housden
2.5-2.5
A very well balanced match overall, with an identical average rating for both teams.
On Board 5, Peter H was the first to finish and after undergoing a lot of pressure throughout the game, he finally succumbed.
On Board 2, Peter G was the next to finish. In his words, after a dodgy combination that cost a pawn, he made the second to last blunder and managed a creditable draw.
On Board 1, I built up a lot of pressure, which Colin fought off, but in severe time trouble he had too many weaknesses and lost a Rook, which finished the game in my favour. So the match was even and we only needed one point from the two remaining games to draw the match (well you have low goals when you’re bottom of the league!). So on to Board 4, where Nigel had fought off a lot of pressure early on, but at the cost of the exchange. Sadly, his opponent’s two Rooks and Queen wove a nasty mating attack, which Nigel resisted until the forced loss of his last remaining Rook, which ended the game.
It all came down to Guiseppe – who, incredibly, was well ahead on time at this stage (surely a first?). He played the ending well and his two connected passed Pawns, well away from the opposing King, proved decisive. So a drawn match and perhaps the C team has turned a corner?