It became obvious to us that we were not going to be able to field three teams in the League Cups this week. HA1 and HA3 were both a player short and HA2 was going to be two players short. On Monday, we took the decision to fold the HA2 cup team. I contacted Peter Poolan at Melton to default the match and apologise. I also contacted Iain Dodds to withdraw the team from the rest of the Minor League Cup.
We had been hoping to play Rob in HA2, but with HA2 out of the picture, we were able to donate him to the HA1 squad. This just left the problem of getting an HA3 team out.
In a discussion between Iain Dodds and Mike Salisbury, the decision was made that since only one round of the competition had been played, and since there might still be problems in playing an HA3 side, that we could play HA2 players in the HA3 side. This reduced the chances of us having to fold HA3, too, in future rounds and also enabled us to play John and Ray rather than the higher rated Pete (who would have been able to play for HA3).
HA3 had a 1.5 point head start. I was not around on the night, but from what i hear, Drew and Michael (or maybe Michael and Drew) finished first and second. John then won, and it all came down to Ray's game with bits all over the place. Ray losing, then winning, and then his opponent achieving a perpetual.
A 3 point to 2.5 point win after the handicap was added.
| 22 Nov | Heathcote Arms 3 | v | Braunstone 3 | GD | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1½ - 2½ | 65 | ||||||
| Handicap | 1½ - 0 | ||||||
| 3 - 2½ | |||||||
| 1 | W | 119 | The Grinder | 1 - 0 | Closs, Guy | 118 | -1 |
| 2 | B | 105 | Raymondov | ½ - ½ | Barlow, Steve | 91 | -14 |
| 3 | W | 40 | Bubb, Andrew | 0 - 1 | Tangney, Vince | 76 | 36 |
| 4 | B | 36 | Bubb, Michael | 0 - 1 | Reid, Patrick | 80 | 44 |
A draw over the boards, but a loss after the handicap for HA1.
| 23 Nov | Loughborough 1 | v | Heathcote Arms 1 | GD | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 - 2 | 20 | ||||||
| Handicap | ½ - 0 | ||||||
| 2½ - 2 | |||||||
| 1 | B | 173 | Mitchell, John | ½ - ½ | Sharpe, Graham | 181 | 8 |
| 2 | W | 167 | Eagleton, Greg | 1 - 0 | Bray, Dave | 170 | 3 |
| 3 | B | 136 | Fraser, Michael | ½ - ½ | Booley, Graham | 147 | 11 |
| 4 | W | 130 | Hickman, Peter | 0 - 1 | Ensor, Rob | 128 | -2 |
On Thursday, it was my play off against David Reynolds and Bob Collins for the Major Section of the County Championship. The format was for each of us to play two games, one with white and one with black with a time control of 20 minutes each. If after the first round there was a tie, we were to do the same again with half the time limit.
We spun some coins and it was David with white versus me with black in the first game. David opened with g4 and some unusual stuff. I was quickly in trouble losing a pawn and with some threats against me. I was able to reorganise though - forced him to double some pawns - swapped off queens and was able to pick up the pawn to equalise. I then had a mate threat with a rook along the seventh - David defended against that but allowed me to knight fork his king and rook. An exchange up, for a while i felt that things were going well, but then ran in to the inevitable time trouble and, returning the earlier favour, allowed David to knight fork my two rooks. Game over.
David then had the black pieces against Bob. David, by now warmed up, piled on the pressure, and then some more pressure, against Bob's kingside and Bob had no chance.
With David 2-0 up, he could not be caught and so there was no point in Bob and I playing a third game. Bob, and The Grinder (who had come to lend some support), and i retired to the bar for a few halves.
Next Tuesday:
HA1 play at home against Ashby 2
HA3 play at home against Braunstone 5
There will probably be the chance of some friendly games for anyone popping down on spec.
Well done everyone,
Colin.
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