Ashfield 1 lost both matches in Week 2 of the 4NCL in Division Three Bishops. Playing the two strongest teams, disaster struck pre-match on Saturday when Mike Naylor-Eade was involved in a car crash that wrote off his vehicle; thankfully there were no injuries. Mike was due to pick up Alex Combie and as a result we had to take a -2pt penalty when both games were defaulted. Of the remaining games David Coates lost to IM opponent Augustin Madin after an arduous struggle lasting over 70 moves. The remaining three games were halved.
Result (Round 3) “Ashfield 1” -½ – “Desert Penguins” 4½
Sunday saw us back with a full team and I’m indebted to Chris Cumbers for taking Mike and Alex. We faced Barnet Knights B, the strongest team in the league with an average rating approaching 2200. Although we suffered a couple of quite quick losses, we dug in on the remaining games and both Alex and Justin drew. Highlight of the week though was a 106 move victory by Hubert over another up and coming junior.
Result (Round 4) “Ashfield 1” 2 – “Barnet Knights B” 4
Games can be viewed here.
Ashfield 2 & 3 are placed in mid table after Rounds 3 & 4 of the 4NCL in Coventry in 15th & 22nd place respectively. Round Three saw the seconds score an emphatic win by 5½-½ over War and Piece “C”, a team based on Service personnel, who offered very little resistance. Whilst the thirds were also winners by 4½- 1½ against She Plays to Win Kestrels, a team of young girl players, their opponents were made of sterner stuff and played well above their ratings.
Ashfield 2 faced much tougher opposition in Round Four and lost by 4-2 to Shropshire & Friends with Stefan the only winner plus a couple of draws. Ashfield 3 played English Deaf Chess Association and had to depend on wins from Robert and James on Boards 5 & 6 to ensure a shared point.
All the games are now available on the 4NCL website.