Shrewsbury B recorded a comfortable victory at home to strugglers Telepost C to move into second place in the second division, and in doing so create a pleasing chronology with the top six teams in the division whereby leaders Telepost B have 8 points, then Shrewsbury B in second with seven, then Ludlow with 6, Oswestry A with 5, Newport B with 4 and Wellington B in 6th place with 3 points. Sadly, the pattern stops there, but it’s certainly an unusual occurrence!
Skipper Matt Best was able to field a full strength team for only the second time this season (with the prior occasion coming in a draw with Telford B), whereas the visitors were without regular board two Francis Rooney. They were also, as it turned out, without their expected board two for the night as Shane Sweeney failed to appear. However, this was not the first game to finish (bizarrely!). Under league rules, it requires an hour after the start of play before a default may be claimed, so by the time Daniel Lockett had waited his hour (having held on until 8 to start the clock), Shrewsbury had already put themselves into a 1-0 lead courtesy of Mark Smith’s win on board 5. Having won a piece for a pawn against Nick Holmes as well as decimating his pawn structure, Mark converted his advantage just before board two was officially won by default.
Not long after, the match was secured. Norman O’Connor was facing Dean Pinnington on board 5 and, after a slow start to the game with a blocked-up position having arisen from the English, Norman was able to prise open Dean’s kingside and advance a menacing h-pawn through to the sixth rank. Shortly after, a combination of a powerfully-positioned Queen and a rook check down the open g-file forced Dean’s King onto f8 without any squares it could move to, and there was nothing he could do to prevent the advance of Norman’s h-pawn through to its queening square.
Top board finished next, where Matt Best was facing Charles Micallef. After another quiet opening, Matt managed to build up a slight advantage with the initiative as he attacked Charles’ vulnerable b-pawn and ensured Charles’ dark-squared Bishop was consigned to passivity. However, solid defence from Charles meant that one or two sub-optimal moves from Matt (chiefly due to a lack of patience) led to a drawn endgame.
However, there was better news on board three where Ivor Salter saw off the in-form Kate Walker. After winning the exchange with a dastardly Knight-fork, Ivor proceeded to force through a nasty-looking a-pawn, which Kate would have been forced to sacrifice her rook for in order to prevent it Queening.
Overall, then, a very satisfying result that keeps the promotion race looking very interesting at the top of the second division. Finally, though, a quick reminder to all those playing in the club championship – please play your first round game ASAP if you haven’t already done so. The draw for the second round will take place at the end of November.
Shrewsbury B 4½-½ Telepost C
- M. Best ½-½ C. Micallef
- D. Lockett 1-0 Default
- I. Salter 1-0 K. Walker
- N. O’Connor 1-0 D. Pinnington
- M. Smith 1-0 N. Holmes