Sunday 30 November 2008

B team defeat table-topping Wellington

Despite a last minute switch round of the team because of two missing players, Church Stretton B managed to beat Wellington A who are currently top of division two and had won all four of their previous matches.

Captain Tom Williamson was originally going to sit out the home match but had to step in on board three when two of his team didn't manage to get to the club. Wellington had already come a player short and the late switch of Stretton players meant that it ended up as a four board match. Eric Elwell was first to finish with a draw on board two, a pawn up but not enough to force the full point. Tom Wiliamson lost his game after his opponent broke through in the centre, but then Francis Rooney who was ahead on material from an early stage calmly finished off his opponent to win on board four levelling the match. This left David Williams on board one trying to hold out against Wellington captain Toby Neal's ferocious sacrificial attack. In the end Toby ended up too short of both time and material and David held his nerve to win the game, securing a win for the home club.

Church Stretton B 2.5-1.5 Wellington A
David Williams 1-0 Toby Neal
Eric Elwell 0.5-0.5 Neil Sampson
Tom Williamson 0-1 John Lenton
Francis Rooney 1-0 B Ives

Monday 24 November 2008

A team lose out against Newport

Church Stretton A lost another close match last week. Visitors Newport A have lost several players to university in recent seasons and were yet to get any points in division 1 before the game. Top county player Nick Rutter on board one overcame Church Stretton's Karl Wakefield to put Newport in the lead. This was followed by a win for Church Stretton's Eric Elwell on board five against Sellick Davies and then Graham Shepherd lost to Alex Taylor on board 3. This left Newport 2-1 ahead and the final two boards were drawn with neither Steve Rooney on board two or John Whittaker on board three able to conjure up a win.

Church Stretton A 2-3 Newport A
K Wakefield 0, N Rutter 1;
S Rooney 0.5, A Holdford 0.5;
G Shepherd 0, A Taylor 1;
J Whittaker 0.5, D Griffiths 0.5;
E Elwell 1, S Davies 0.

Draw for B team at Shifnal & Telford B

The B team got a second successive draw at Shifnal & Telford, this time against the B team.

Shifnal & Telford B 2.5-2.5 Church Stretton B

W. Peck 0, G. Shepherd 1;
G. Lee 1, D. Williams 0;
S. Tennant 1, A. Thorpe 0;
J. Kenderdine 0.5, T. Williamson 0.5;
N. Donaldson 0, C. Pimms-Jones 1.

Monday 10 November 2008

A team lose out to Shrewsbury

Following a default in the last match when it was not possible to field a full side, the A team lost a tough battle against Shrewsbury in a match. The result didn't reflect the tightness of the match. The home team points came from Karl Wakefield who got a well deserved draw against Shrewsbury top board Philip Makepeace and Steve Rooney won a sharp encounter with Francis Best.

Church Stretton A 1.5-3.5 Shrewsbury A
K Wakefield 0.5, P Makepeace 0.5;
G Link 0, D Everington 1;
S Rooney 1, F Best 0;
J Whittaker 0, Kitchen 1;
D Williams 0, R Cox 1.

B team draw away to Shifnal & Telford C

The B team were held to a draw away to Shifnal & Telford B.


Shifnal and Telford C v Church Stretton B 2.5 - 2.5

G Lee 1, G Shepherd 0;
R Brown 1, D Williams 0;
R Gillespie 0.5, A Thorpe 0.5;
P Broderick 0, T Williamson 1;
J Beddoes 0, C Pimm-Jones 1.