Based on grades (see the numbers below) we didn't actually do too badly against Horfield A. Unfortunately Oli was poorly and, thanks to the dratted Minor Knockout match on the same evening, we didn't have time to rustle up a replacement. Horfield, on the other hand, were able to drum up Stephen Dilleigh to cover their missing player and, as it turned out, this was the deciding factor, over the board.

Our Steve (at minus 11) agreed to split the point with Derek fairly early and I (minus 26) took the opportunity to follow suit against Phil. All of which was fine and dandy except for the minor detail that we were already a point down.

Andrew C confounded the onlookers by not offering a draw until two had already been notched up. With black against Dominic (minus 10) he was next to finish - a well fought result!

Which left boards four and three. By his own admission Mike (minus 9) was not playing at his best and a few of Stephen's moves, which could possibly be described as scintillating, clinched the point. Which left it all to Andrew M (at minus 16) against Peter to salvage a little from the match. Despite having a horribly locked in bishop, he somehow freed it and, just when Peter may have thought he was going to emerge the exchange up, he pulled off a delightful coup which secured a dead drawn ending. Well done!

It was nice to finish the match on an upbeat moment. Just a shame about what had gone before. Horfield had certainly made best use of their advantage.