There was plenty to look forward to in this away match against Horfield A.
Firstly, it is usually a very close match, with both sides evenly balanced. Secondly, it was a very exciting prospect to have Kandara and Zack making their debut for our B-Team. It was a shame to be missing both Graham and Aldrin (due to half-term commitments) but what a pair of talented super subs we had to take their place.
Both teams were bang on time (apart from Max). On a wet and windy night he definitely had the longest and most arduous journey of all, and it was not surprising when he arrived ten minutes late. However, he got right into it, and before long was up on the clock!
The first to finish was Kandara, who made a very important draw. John held the upper hand from quite early on, and with at least a couple of pawns to his advantage (towards the back end of the game), it wasn’t looking too good for us. However, Kandara was extremely canny, got a pawn back and managed to manufacture a position when she was safe in the knowledge that giving up her bishop for one of John’s extra pawns would force him to agree the draw. A solid start.
I think it was Zack who finished next. After several minor pieces decided to leave the board, there was plenty of middlegame manoeuvring back and forth. Nigel then decided to castle queenside, and this soon set Zack’s a to c pawns rolling down the board. As it transpired, it was Zack’s c-pawn that really became annoying, and with the pressure mounting Nigel unfortunately lost his knight. Ten moves later he had seen enough and resigned.
1 ½ out of 2 was a fantastic effort by our debutants. From then on things just got better and better!
Reinhold and Steve are of course very solid players and hard nuts to crack. Reinhold used a fair bit of time in the opening, but no problems there, and when they unsurprisingly arrived at an equal ending a draw was agreed. All good for us.
Max was next. He had a really good game, and with both sides’ pieces flying up and down the board, he eventually started getting a winning advantage after the 25th move. Queens came off and then Max’s pieces really started to work together. This resulted in the capture of a couple of Andy’s pawns, and with his rook also under some threat he decided to resign on move 39. Very good for us.
Mike’s and Matias’s game was always going to be nip and tuck. The middle game position soon became quite complicated…no surprise there then! Matias had won a pawn early on, and may have had the chance of a decent initiative if he had put one of his rooks on b8 when he had the opportunity. He didn’t, and any chance of an advantage was gone. Mike then played actively and, although still a pawn down, with both his rooks taking the b-file he was in the healthier position when the draw was agreed (move 33). Match won !
Finally to Oli v Mike on board two. By Oli’s own admission he didn’t play his best out of the opening. Mike had the better middle game position, but then Oli got his act together and gradually retrieved the situation. With both (particularly Mike) going low on time, Oli grabbed the initiative, made a telling break through, and Mike was suddenly on the back foot. With little time to calculate, he lost the exchange, and Oli finished off in style!
So an extremely satisfying and convincing 1 ½ - 4 ½ win for the B–Team. Maybe not so much over the board, but for sure on the scoresheet.
A big thanks to Max for making the trip, Kandara and Zack for making their debut, and to Darrell and Keyur for their highly efficient taxi service.
John Stubbs