Downend B travelled to Clevedon on a cold and frosty Monday evening with a weakened team as they were missing three players and had to face a strong Clevedon line up.
I arrived at around 8:30pm, mask at the ready, and cast my eye on the boards.
Oscar on (board 1) had a lead in development and the bishop pair but was a pawn down. Martin on (board 2) was doing his best to avoid the g-file being opened up as Max was poised with Queen and two Rooks ready to pounce. Mark Morris (board 3) seemed to have the better of a Vienna enjoying more space. Dominique (board 4) playing a Benoni seemed to be in trouble on the queenside and looking vulnerable on the clock. Tom's game on (board 5) had already reached a Rook + Pawn ending where a draw looked the likely outcome. Mike on (board 6) had an isolated queens pawn in a French Tarrasch but was enjoying being up on the clock for a change !
Oscar and Carl went down to Rook + Knight and the game was first to finish in a draw.
Dominique mixed it up, giving up the exchange and advancing two connected pawns to the extent that Matthew had to give up a piece and ended up with a material advantage QBB v QR but due to the clock times offered a draw.
Tom had a tricky RP ending where he unfortunately chose the wrong king move and lost giving the advantage to Clevedon: 2 - 1
Martin managed to swap off the heavyweight pieces to leave a blocked pawn structure and achieve a vital draw as black.
Mike's game suddenly turned on its head, and he found himself with 2 Rooks doing untold damage on the 7th rank and his opponent down to under a minute, however David managed counterplay with his last remaining pawn to force a draw.
White fell for the tempting Bxd5?! (...Rd8!) when Rxe6 would be winning.
Needing a win to draw the match. up stepped our star player Mark, a pawn up but a doubled one but attacking in a R + opposite coloured bishops ending, it proved too difficult for DPK to hold not helped by his clock time disappearing fast.
A thoroughly deserved draw where you cannot fault any of the team for sheer effort, well done to all of you!