The B-team went to Horfield well aware that with their strength in depth we would be facing an uphill task against their C-team. And so it turned out as we were out-graded by an average of 8 points per board.

However, we got off to a good start as Matthew managed to gobble a couple of-pawns and the third one was a killer, forcing resignation! James gambited a-pawn and his pressure worked well enough to give us a 2-0 lead.

My opponent gave up a piece for a-pawn for an attack and then looked like he would trap my queen for a rook. However, I had a fortunate response giving up a rook for two more-pawns and emerged an exchange down but three-pawns up. Oops, minor detail, not much time left! How about a draw? Quick handshake.

Andrew, meanwhile, built up some pressure with trebled heavy pieces on an open file but his opponent defended resourcefully and won enough material to force resignation.

So 2.5 - 1.5 up and all eyes on the bottom two boards. Could we scrape one more point between them? It all became rather tense.

Dave had played another Danish Gambit and was customarily short of time but with much pressure. Mike had allowed a defended passed-pawn on e6. But, and it was a big but, that pawn was defended by a bishop and all white's pawns were on the same colour. The old fox, however, had retained a knight and he demonstrated excellent technique, despite being very short of time, to win a couple of-pawns and then promote one of his own. By now Dave was down to less than two minutes but in the end his attack proved to be irresistible and he clinched another point.

4.5 - 1.5 was more than we had dared to hope for but, on the night, very well deserved.