The start of the second half of the season saw the return match against our own B team. Clearly it was going to be important to win, not only to keep up the pressure against Bath at the top of the table, but also to avenge our painful defeat from the first half of the season.

We were without Nigel, but they were without Mike, so chances were about equal as their squad contained two players who had already represented the A team successfully this season.

After some careful tactical planning, a board order was decided upon with an emphasis on 'playing the man not the board' and we commenced battle hoping for the best.

Board one was Oscar with the black pieces defending against Oli’s London System and he decided to play it safe and chose a solid quiet line. Evidently this was a good choice as he equalised comfortably, and a quick draw was agreed in just under 20 moves.

On board two Aron was playing down to get the rare opportunity of playing with the White pieces. His opponent Max Walker had already played successfully for the A team this season and wouldn't be an easy opponent. In the end, though, Aron played an excellent positional game, starting with a Giuoco Piano opening and finishing off like Karpov!

On board three Steve was playing black against Reinhold which was a pairing we were very happy with as there would be a chance to use opening preparation from a previous occasion that didn't come to fruit. And so it came to pass with Reinhold placing his pawns on c4, d4, e4 and f4 and Steve responding with a rare continuation involving an early Bg4. Steve was absolutely ruthless in his execution and Reinhold was defeated in a bloody carnage lasting only 26 moves.

I haven't seen the PGN of board 4 so am unable to comment much other than to say it ended in a draw between Mark and Aldrin. From what I can gather it was a peaceful occasion with neither side ever having much of an advantage.

My own game on board 5 against Graham Iwi was the Black side of an open Sicilian - an exciting game for the spectators and whilst the overall quality left much to be decided I was eventually able to take the full point by virtue of Graham making the last and final blunder!

On bottom board Dave Tipper, the official match photographer and Downend taxi driver, was making his debut for this season against club treasurer Martin White. Play followed normal and expected channels with Dave playing the White side of a Maróczy Bind against Martin’s accelerated Dragon. Unable to convert his slight pressure into anything meaningful against Martin's accurate play, the game was agreed drawn after 24 moves.

So overall a convincing victory with Downend A coming out on top 4½-1½ and we now look forward to playing the University B in February.

Peter Chaplin