Two of the club's former stalwarts were welcomed back into the team for the away match at Oswestry. Karl Wakefield and David Williams played their first matches for some time, but clearly haven't got too rusty in the meantime as both chalked up wins in a 5-0 whitewash.
The return of Karl and David has reinforced our "squad" approach to this season - we have played eight matches and haven't fielded the same line-up more than once.
Tom Williams looked like he was heading to the bar very early on after winning a queen for a knight in a dozen moves but his opponent Alf Evans created a solid defensive phalanx around his king. Tom decided to play the long game and take his time in breaking through, which he eventually did after Graham Shepherd and then Karl Wakefield won their games. David Williams made it 4-0 when he became the third player in the team to win an exchange of rook for minor piece, and then a fifth win was had on board one by Steve Rooney.
Looks like we are definitely in the promotion race now!
Friday, 25 February 2011
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Newport doubled
We managed to secure the double against Newport B in a 3-2 home win in the latest league match.
Newport have had a tough season and are yet to get any points, but they ran us pretty close in a hard fought match.
Eric Elwell and Adrian Thorpe snatched early wins but Newport levelled the match by winning on boards 4 and 5, leaving Steve Rooney to grind out a win in the face of some stubborn resistance by Steve Cooper.
Newport have had a tough season and are yet to get any points, but they ran us pretty close in a hard fought match.
Eric Elwell and Adrian Thorpe snatched early wins but Newport levelled the match by winning on boards 4 and 5, leaving Steve Rooney to grind out a win in the face of some stubborn resistance by Steve Cooper.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Holding the draw
The first league match of 2011 resulted in a draw in a home tie against Shifnal & Telford B.
Graham Shepherd and Gerald Link won comfortably on boards 1 and 2, and draws for Tom Williamson on 4 and Francis Rooney on 5 sealed the win.
Onward and upward!
Graham Shepherd and Gerald Link won comfortably on boards 1 and 2, and draws for Tom Williamson on 4 and Francis Rooney on 5 sealed the win.
Onward and upward!
Friday, 17 December 2010
On top of Division 2
... for a while at least
Church Stretton have finished the first part of the season with 3 wins and 2 draws from 5 matches and are currently in first place in Division 2, although second-placed Ludlow have a game in hand.
The policy this season has been to rotate players from our squad to try and give everyone a game which is good for the long term health of the club. In fact "resting" some of our players doesn't seem to have affected our results too much either with some great performances on all boards.
Notable individual scores include Chris Pimm Jones and Francis Rooney who both have 2 wins and a draw from three games, and Graham Shepherd with 2 wins and a draw from four games. Tom Williamson, Gerald Link and Adrian Thorpe all have 50 per cent records with 1 win and a draw from three games and newcomer this season Dean Pinnington has a 100 per cent record with a win in his debut against Telepost C. Captain Steve Rooney is also on 100 per cent with 3 wins from 3 games and Eric Elwel has one draw from one game played. And of course not forgetting Gordon Lyon who stepped in to play for Church Stretton when bad weather meant we were a player short at Telepost C, by kind permission of Telepost, he held his own for most of his board four match but unfortunately lost out in the end.
Remember that the regular club night on Thursdays has been reinstated this season and we look forward to seeing many of you there in the New Year.
Church Stretton have finished the first part of the season with 3 wins and 2 draws from 5 matches and are currently in first place in Division 2, although second-placed Ludlow have a game in hand.
The policy this season has been to rotate players from our squad to try and give everyone a game which is good for the long term health of the club. In fact "resting" some of our players doesn't seem to have affected our results too much either with some great performances on all boards.
Notable individual scores include Chris Pimm Jones and Francis Rooney who both have 2 wins and a draw from three games, and Graham Shepherd with 2 wins and a draw from four games. Tom Williamson, Gerald Link and Adrian Thorpe all have 50 per cent records with 1 win and a draw from three games and newcomer this season Dean Pinnington has a 100 per cent record with a win in his debut against Telepost C. Captain Steve Rooney is also on 100 per cent with 3 wins from 3 games and Eric Elwel has one draw from one game played. And of course not forgetting Gordon Lyon who stepped in to play for Church Stretton when bad weather meant we were a player short at Telepost C, by kind permission of Telepost, he held his own for most of his board four match but unfortunately lost out in the end.
Remember that the regular club night on Thursdays has been reinstated this season and we look forward to seeing many of you there in the New Year.
Friday, 22 October 2010
Winning start for Church Stretton
A 5-0 victory away against Newport B got us off to a great start in our first match of the season.
Gerald Link was first to take a point, confidently rebutting Dave Lovegrove's ambitious opening (1.e4 c5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qh5) then winning a central pawn followed by a piece before forcing resignation when about to win a queen and mate.
Graham Shepherd followed after overpowering Richard Szwajkun and Richard's dad Steve was beaten by Tom Williamson after dropping a piece in an ending that was probably winning for Tom anyway. Francis Rooney calmly absorbed a lot of pressure and pounced on a couple of fatal blunders in his match against newcomer Willie Gormley. Finally Steve Rooney made it a clean sweep when his attack on Steve Cooper's king finally forced resignation in response to a horrible pin and mating threats.
Next match is home to Oswestry A on 4 November.
Gerald Link was first to take a point, confidently rebutting Dave Lovegrove's ambitious opening (1.e4 c5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qh5) then winning a central pawn followed by a piece before forcing resignation when about to win a queen and mate.
Graham Shepherd followed after overpowering Richard Szwajkun and Richard's dad Steve was beaten by Tom Williamson after dropping a piece in an ending that was probably winning for Tom anyway. Francis Rooney calmly absorbed a lot of pressure and pounced on a couple of fatal blunders in his match against newcomer Willie Gormley. Finally Steve Rooney made it a clean sweep when his attack on Steve Cooper's king finally forced resignation in response to a horrible pin and mating threats.
Next match is home to Oswestry A on 4 November.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Successful simul
Many thanks to Trevor Brotherton for taking on nine Church Stretton players in a simul at the club last week.
As expected, Trevor scored very well, conceding just two draws against Graham Shepherd and Steve Rooney. However Trevor admitted that he had to work hard to win on the other seven boards, especially against Mary Whittle who mounted a sharp attack on Trevor's king which really got him thinking.
Many thanks to all those who took part and especially Trevor.
As expected, Trevor scored very well, conceding just two draws against Graham Shepherd and Steve Rooney. However Trevor admitted that he had to work hard to win on the other seven boards, especially against Mary Whittle who mounted a sharp attack on Trevor's king which really got him thinking.
Many thanks to all those who took part and especially Trevor.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Trevor to take on allcomers
One of the county's top players Trevor Brotherton is to take on allcomers at Church Stretton chess club next Thursday 30 September in a simultaneous match.
Trevor is graded well above any of his likely contenders at Church Stretton but hopefully some of the locals will put up a bit of a fight!
New members are very welcome at the club's regular Thursday night chess session at the District Club, Essex Road, Church Stretton, from 7.30pm.
Trevor is graded well above any of his likely contenders at Church Stretton but hopefully some of the locals will put up a bit of a fight!
New members are very welcome at the club's regular Thursday night chess session at the District Club, Essex Road, Church Stretton, from 7.30pm.
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